{"id":4426,"date":"2015-05-08T16:55:34","date_gmt":"2015-05-08T22:55:34","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/bgs.com\/?p=4426"},"modified":"2015-05-08T16:55:34","modified_gmt":"2015-05-08T22:55:34","slug":"divorce-vs-legal-separation-in-minnesota","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bgs.com\/blog\/2015\/05\/08\/divorce-vs-legal-separation-in-minnesota\/","title":{"rendered":"Divorce vs. Legal Separation in Minnesota"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Often what a \u201ccouple\u201d considers separation versus what a court considers \u201cseparation\u201d are two very different things.<br \/>\nThere\u2019s a difference between \u201cseparation\u201d and \u201clegal separation.\u201d Just because you and your spouse are living apart, it doesn\u2019t mean that you\u2019re legally separated.<br \/>\nSo, what is legal separation, and how does it differ from a divorce?<\/p>\n<h3><\/h3>\n<h3>What is Legal Separation in Minnesota?<\/h3>\n<p>Legal separation actually changes the status of your marriage. Before you and your spouse can be legally separated, you\u2019ll need to file and serve a petition.<br \/>\nIt\u2019s important to remember that this is a completely <a href=\"https:\/\/bgs.com\/areas-of-practice\/divorce\/\">separate process from a divorce<\/a>. Unlike other states, you\u2019re not required to legally separate before getting a divorce in Minnesota.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong><em>Legal separation can take just as long as a divorce, and it can be just as costly.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>For all intents and purposes, legal separation is just like a divorce. Property, child custody, child support and spousal maintenance issues are all resolved. The couple\u2019s debts and assets are divided.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/bgs.com\/areas-of-practice\/divorce\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-4481 size-thumbnail\" src=\"https:\/\/bgs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Divorce-150x38.png\" alt=\"Divorce\" width=\"150\" height=\"38\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3>Legal Separation vs. Divorce<\/h3>\n<p>So, what makes legal separation different from a divorce? You\u2019re still married.<br \/>\nIf you want to end the marriage, you\u2019ll need to go through the <a href=\"https:\/\/bgs.com\/areas-of-practice\/divorce\/how-long-does-a-minnesota-divorce-take\/\">divorce process<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h3>When Legal Separation Makes Sense<\/h3>\n<p><strong>Why would a couple choose legal separation over a divorce?<\/strong><br \/>\nFor some, it\u2019s their moral values or religious beliefs that prevent them from getting a divorce. In some cases, insurance, tax benefits or financial issues may prevent a divorce. Yet in other cases, couples are still on the fence about whether or not they want to divorce. If you\u2019re still deciding which step is correct for you, it\u2019s best to speak with an attorney familiar with Minnesota Family Law to get advice on your specific situation.<\/p>\n<h3>Get Help Today<\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/bgs.com\/areas-of-practice\/family-law\/\">Minnesota Family Law<\/a> can be confusing, particularly when loved ones are involved. If you\u2019d like to discuss anything with our family law attorneys, pick up the phone and call us at 763-780-8500 or <a href=\"https:\/\/bgs.com\/contact-us\/\">email us<\/a> if you\u2019re more comfortable communicating that way. We\u2019re here to help and we love meeting new clients so don\u2019t hesitate contacting the <a href=\"https:\/\/bgs.com\">BGS Law Firm<\/a>. <strong><em>Elizabeth Schading author of this article is now offering FREE thirty minute initial consultations.\u00a0 Her regular ninety minute consultations are still available for a fee.\u00a0<\/em> <\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Often what a \u201ccouple\u201d considers separation versus what a court considers \u201cseparation\u201d are two very different things. There\u2019s a difference between \u201cseparation\u201d and \u201clegal separation.\u201d Just because you and your spouse are living apart, it doesn\u2019t mean that you\u2019re legally separated. So, what is legal separation, and how does it differ from a divorce? What is Legal Separation in Minnesota? Legal separation actually changes the status of your marriage. Before you and your spouse can be legally separated, you\u2019ll need to file and serve a petition. It\u2019s important to remember that this is a completely separate process from a divorce. Unlike other states, you\u2019re not required to legally separate before getting a divorce in Minnesota. Legal separation can take just as long as a divorce, and it can be just as costly. For all intents and purposes, legal separation is just like a divorce. Property, child custody, child support and spousal maintenance issues are all resolved. The couple\u2019s debts and assets are divided. Legal Separation vs. Divorce So, what makes legal separation different from a divorce? You\u2019re still married. If you want to end the marriage, you\u2019ll need to go through the divorce process. When Legal Separation Makes Sense Why would a couple choose legal separation over a divorce? For some, it\u2019s their&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[23,21],"tags":[],"coauthors":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v20.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Divorce vs. Legal Separation in Minnesota - Barna, Guzy &amp; Steffen, LTD.<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.com\/blog\/2015\/05\/08\/divorce-vs-legal-separation-in-minnesota\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Divorce vs. Legal Separation in Minnesota - Barna, Guzy &amp; Steffen, LTD.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Often what a \u201ccouple\u201d considers separation versus what a court considers \u201cseparation\u201d are two very different things. There\u2019s a difference between \u201cseparation\u201d and \u201clegal separation.\u201d Just because you and your spouse are living apart, it doesn\u2019t mean that you\u2019re legally separated. So, what is legal separation, and how does it differ from a divorce? What is Legal Separation in Minnesota? Legal separation actually changes the status of your marriage. Before you and your spouse can be legally separated, you\u2019ll need to file and serve a petition. It\u2019s important to remember that this is a completely separate process from a divorce. Unlike other states, you\u2019re not required to legally separate before getting a divorce in Minnesota. Legal separation can take just as long as a divorce, and it can be just as costly. For all intents and purposes, legal separation is just like a divorce. Property, child custody, child support and spousal maintenance issues are all resolved. The couple\u2019s debts and assets are divided. Legal Separation vs. Divorce So, what makes legal separation different from a divorce? You\u2019re still married. If you want to end the marriage, you\u2019ll need to go through the divorce process. When Legal Separation Makes Sense Why would a couple choose legal separation over a divorce? For some, it\u2019s their...\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.com\/blog\/2015\/05\/08\/divorce-vs-legal-separation-in-minnesota\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Barna, Guzy &amp; Steffen, LTD.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2015-05-08T22:55:34+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/bgs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Divorce-150x38.png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Elizabeth A. Schading\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Elizabeth A. 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So, what is legal separation, and how does it differ from a divorce? What is Legal Separation in Minnesota? Legal separation actually changes the status of your marriage. Before you and your spouse can be legally separated, you\u2019ll need to file and serve a petition. It\u2019s important to remember that this is a completely separate process from a divorce. Unlike other states, you\u2019re not required to legally separate before getting a divorce in Minnesota. Legal separation can take just as long as a divorce, and it can be just as costly. For all intents and purposes, legal separation is just like a divorce. Property, child custody, child support and spousal maintenance issues are all resolved. The couple\u2019s debts and assets are divided. Legal Separation vs. Divorce So, what makes legal separation different from a divorce? You\u2019re still married. If you want to end the marriage, you\u2019ll need to go through the divorce process. 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