Know How Separation Agreements are Making Your Divorce Easier

What Do We Know About a Separation Agreement?

A separation agreement refers to an arrangement or contract between a married couple about staying or living apart for a specific duration. It may be permanent or temporary, the latter generally six months. The agreement can comprise child support, financial matter management, and alimony. 

The time after a separation agreement can progress in two directions. The spouses may either decide to live together again or get a divorce and go their distinct ways. In the former case, the married couple can cancel or terminate the terms of the separation contract after they start living together again. 

Separation agreements have two essential objectives and goals. They strive to outline the responsibilities, duties, and rights of the married couple for which each spouse must remain responsible. Furthermore, it creates and implements a binding contract before a relevant legal authority, like a judge. Secondly, the separation agreement serves as proof that both the involved parties have agreed to live apart. It makes it effortless for a judge to grant the divorce. 

Conventionally, the concept serves the purpose of giving the spouses time to think carefully about their divorce and deal with their separation issues. They may even seek and hire the help of a mediator or a divorce mediation lawyer to guide them through the process.   

How Can a Separation Agreement Make a Divorce Easier?

Generally, the need for divorce arises due to disagreements and discords between a married couple. Their conflicts can get even more enhanced if the spouses live together daily and face the same issues continually. A separation agreement gives them respite for a specific period during which they can get mental and physical rest. Furthermore, it allows them to think their marriage over. In other words, they can consider divorce or reconciliation. 

Even if a couple decides to go for divorce after their separation agreement duration ends, they can do so with a calm and tranquil state of mind. In addition, the concept can make the process more undemanding and convenient. It is because the spouses can manage and divide their debts, liabilities, assets, responsibilities, properties, child custody, and so on through the separation agreement. In such cases, the contract and its terms combine with the divorce proceedings. Thus, they become a part or section of the overall judgment. 

Divorce lawyers can help a married couple decide the terms of the separation agreement. They can double as compensation claim solicitors and negotiate the terms and details. It makes the process even smoother for the spouses. 

What Benefits Can a Couple Get From a Separation Agreement?

A separation agreement can bring numerous benefits, including:

• Flexibility

A married couple can get more flexibility in deciding the terms of a separation agreement since the matter remains in their hands. They can settle on mutually-agreed points and include fair conditions. 

• Cost

Suppose the spouses agree on specific provisions of the separation agreement without any discords. Then, they would require less time and cost for court litigation and other proceedings. Furthermore, the wife can appoint female divorce lawyers for more comfort and security during the mentally-draining time. 

• Time

A separation agreement details all the terms mutually agreed upon by a divorcing couple. Thus, they can get used when the case moves on to divorce proceedings. The court does not need to spend time deciding the conditions again. It helps save significant time. 

• Privacy

A separation agreement does not need the court’s interference to get filed. Thus, the legal document can remain private and accessible solely by the spouses and their lawyers unless they grant viewing authority.