What are the Benefits of Legal Separation?
Legal separation may free you from the time constraints necessary to get a divorce in Washington, D.C.. Here’s what the process could mean and how a divorce attorney in Washington D.C. can help you through this process.
Going through problems in your marriage could be a devastating experience. After all, to think that the person you vowed to spend the rest of your life with may not be “the one” is something that may challenge you to the very core.
The law in D.C. requires parties to wait anywhere from six months to one year to be able to file for divorce. Once the divorce has been filed, the parties then have to work through the process of mediation of litigation to get to a resolution of all the issues that come along with a divorce, such as property and debt division, alimony, child custody, child support, etc. Many people do not want to be burdened with the deep discomfort that can arise in a process that drags on for a long period of time, and would prefer to expedite the dissolution of their marriage.
That is where legal separation comes in. It provides you with a more expedient route to the resolution of the issues surrounding the ending of a marriage. The parties, if they reach an agreement, or the court, if the parties cannot reach an agreement regarding all of the issues discussed above Once you have been separated for six months to a year, you can ask the court to change your separation into a divorce through a simple process. Here are a few points to help you understand what legal separation in Washington DC may mean and how you can go about utilizing this option with the help of a divorce lawyer.
What is Legal Separation?
Legal separation is the method of declaring separation from your spouse without bringing the finalization of divorce into the picture. It gives you and your spouse a way to expedite the divorce process. In some cases, a legal separation might allow an avenue for parties to continue to be covered under insurance or as beneficiaries in other matters, whereas those benefits might end upon a divorce.
YOU Decide the Conditions
The option of legal separation can free you from these time constraints. You should be able to complete your divorce mediation on your own time and at the pace that works best for you and your spouse.
Get Some Breathing Room
Legal separation can be obtained without any wait if you and your spouse both agree upon the action. On the other hand, if only one of you agrees, then you need to be separated for six months to one year, depending on whether the separation is mutual or continuous.
Seek Help from a Legal Separation Lawyer
Whether you want to file for legal separation or divorce, you should consult with a divorce lawyer.
The divorce lawyer would help guide you through the process and ensure that your legal separation or, if need be, the subsequent divorce could go forward without potential hurdles.
At Barkat Law, we understand how daunting it can be to separate yourself from someone with whom you intend to spend your life. We make certain to take care of the difficult processes ourselves and leave you to do the thinking that you need to do.
If you want help with legal separation in Washington DC, then make sure to reach out to us today at 202-276-1167 and request your initial consultation.
