Legal Separation

For spouses who wish to end their relationship in the same manner as a divorce would, but want to remain legally married, a legal separation is an option. A judgment of legal separation determines all the same issues as a divorce, except that it does not terminate your status as a legally married couple. There are a number of scenarios where a judgment of legal separation might be an appropriate choice:

1. You want to remain married for religious reasons
2. You want to continue to have medical coverage under a spouse’s insurance
3. You want to remain married long enough to qualify for derivative social security benefits
4. You want to remain eligible for certain benefits accorded to military spouses
5. You have not yet met the residency requirements to file for a divorce in California

If you think a legal separation is right for you, family law attorney Annette Hall Neville provides a free telephone consultation to discuss whether this option is the appropriate choice.