The Difference Between Legal Separation and Divorce

Divorce is a legal separation between spouses. Legal separation is a process that can be done without going to court. It usually lasts for about six months and is used when the parties cannot agree on how to resolve their differences. After six months, the couple can go to court and file for a divorce.

The main difference between legal separation and divorce is that legal separation does not end the marriage. The couple may still live together and continue to have children together. If they want to go through with a divorce, they must get divorced legally. You can also opt for the service of divorce lawyer in Honolulu.

There are four types of divorces: dissolution of marriage, annulment, alienation, and nullity. Dissolution of marriage is when the couple decides to end their marriage but does not go through with a formal divorce process.

An annulment is when one spouse files for an annulment of the other spouse's marriage because it was not legally valid from the beginning. Alienation is when one spouse feels like the other has taken away all of their rights in the marriage. Nullity is when one spouse petitions the court to declare the other spouse's marriage invalid because they were not married at all when it occurred.

Severance of Relationships

In the event of a divorce, there are many legal issues to contend with. This includes issues like what assets will be divided between the two spouses, how children will be raised, and who is financially responsible for any debts incurred during the marriage. Here is a look at some of the more common divorce laws.

Alimony: Alimony is a form of financial assistance awarded to one spouse by the court as long as he or she needs it to maintain a reasonable standard of living. Generally, alimony is payable for a fixed amount of time, typically for half the length of the marriage. However, there are some exceptions to this rule, such as if one spouse has substantially contributed to the other's earning power during the marriage or if there are special circumstances that warrant an increase in alimony payments.

Child Support: Child support is calculated based on each spouse's income and the number of children living with them. The paying spouse is usually required to make periodic payments to the receiving spouse until the child reaches the age of 18 or graduates from high school, whichever comes first.