A legal separation is the process by which married couples untangle their financial and familial ties without getting a divorce. The paperwork and process to obtain a legal separation is almost identical to the divorce process in Connecticut and the cost is about the same. A legal separation can take as little or as much time as you need to complete. You may have heard that there is a 90-day waiting period. If you have an agreement, we can waive the statutory 90-day waiting period. One party must be a resident of Connecticut for a case to be filed in Connecticut.
A legal separation can be processed using any method available to process a divorce (mediation, collaboration, litigation or arbitration) with different timing and costs for each method. Living separately is not equivalent to legal separation. Each case is individualized based on your situation.
Elements may include:
- asset and debt division,
- custody and parenting plans,
- child support,
- alimony,
- college education,
- insurance and
- tax issues.
I can prepare you for the divorce process including the initial legal paperwork, Financial Affidavits, a settlement agreement, and the final hearing documents.