Sometimes, couples come to a point in the relationship where one or both parties decide that it is time for it to end. California is a “no-fault” state, meaning one spouse can dissolve a marriage without the other spouse’s consent, and that no reason needs to be given to do so. We at the Law Office of Stephen W. Penn will discuss a little more about the details of divorce today, starting with the similarities and differences between a dissolution of marriage and a legal separation.
The key point that differentiates them is the fact that in a legal separation, the marriage itself is not terminated. You and your spouse are not considered single. This means that you cannot re-marry. However, you will still often share the benefits that married couples have, such as shared health insurance policies, retirement funds, and so on.
However, these two acts are similar because you may still need to go through court proceedings for a marriage dissolution. In these proceedings, you can make decisions regarding matters like child custody, visitation rights, spousal and child support, and even the division of property. In this way, legal separation can be almost exactly like a divorce. You can even live separately after the split.
Are you a resident of California currently dealing with a divorce or the possibility of a marriage dissolution? Regardless of the circumstances behind it, you may benefit from the aid of an experienced attorney. You can start by taking a look at our web page on divorce, linked here. We have plenty of information and resources for you to browse through.
