Pasadena Legal Separation Lawyer

Divorce versus Legal Separation

In a divorce or "dissolution of marriage," the former couple has legally ended their marriage or domestic partnership.  All matters have been agreed upon by the court and each former spouse is now legally single.  In a legal separation your marriage or partnership is not legally dissolved or ended.  Being legally separated and not divorced does not give either partner the right to marry another.  It does allow you to live separately, having worked out and agreed upon all important issues, just as you would in divorce proceedings.

Marriages and partnerships involve matters that are private and specific to those individuals.  There can be many reasons why separation can be correct for one couple while divorce is desired by others.  At times, religious reasons may decide a preference for separation.  It may be that both partners do not want to remarry.  A spouse or partner can have an important medical issue that will be handled by Social Security benefits once the couple has been married for a certain length of time.  Or there may be financial issues that are best resolved by separation instead of divorce.  A knowledgeable Pasadena family law attorney can work with you in deciding the best course of action for your individual situation.

Experience in Family Law 

Spouses must agree in order for a legal separation to take place and there is no waiting period, as in divorce.  If there is no agreement, the separation will turn into a divorce.  You do not have to meet the California residency requirements in order to obtain a legal separation.  Important decisions on child support, child custody, spousal support, visitation rights and others can all be settled with the approval of the court.  If residency requirements are met, a couple can later petition the court for divorce after their separation.

At The Law Offices of Makupson & Howard, we have 30 years of successful practice in the field of Family Law.  In the practice of law, as in many other areas, nothing replaces hard work and experience.  While we aggressively fight for the rights of our clients, we are also compassionate towards the emotions that can accompany a legal separation.  Let our experience go to work for you at this important time.

If you feel that legal separation may be the correct solution for you, contact a Pasadena Legal Separation Lawyer for assistance.