What’s the Difference Between Separation and Divorce?

What’s the Difference Between Separation and Divorce?

Pollack DivorceThere are various ways to dissolve a marriage in New York. In Nassau County and Suffolk County, people primarily seek divorce or separation, but separation does not dissolve a marriage. Separation merely divides the parties financially from each other and settles the issues of child custody, child parenting time, spousal maintenance, division of property, and all the financial and other issues relevant to a divorce. However, at the end of the day, when you sign a separation agreement, you are not divorced. A lot of people today are under a great hardship when it comes to payment of health insurance premiums which becomes a major issue in a case. 

By entering into a separation agreement opposed to a divorce, parties can remain on the other spouse’s health insurance, and that becomes a very important issue sometimes for people because the spouse who is getting divorced otherwise would not be able to afford health insurance. For a period of time and really without any legal limitation, people can remain married but separated and continue to stay on the other spouse’s health insurance policy. That could be a very big help financially, especially at the beginning when the parties separate and are creating two households out of what used to be one. 

Robert Pollack is an experienced divorce and family law attorney in Long Island, New York. Contact The Pollack Law Firm, P.C., to set up a free initial consultation.

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