A legal separation, sometimes referred to as a limited divorce, is a court-ordered arrangement where a married couple lives separately but remains legally married. This differs from an absolute divorce, which terminates the marriage entirely. The order typically addresses issues such as spousal support, child custody, child support, and property division, similar to a final divorce decree, but does not grant either party the right to remarry.
This type of separation can offer several benefits. It allows couples to live apart while maintaining certain legal and financial advantages associated with marriage, such as health insurance coverage or tax benefits. It might also be pursued for religious or personal reasons by individuals who oppose absolute divorce. Historically, it served as a necessary step toward an absolute divorce in some jurisdictions, offering a trial separation period before the final dissolution of the marriage.