What is a legal separation?

A legal separation is a type of family law in the state of Washington that allows a married couple to live separately while still being considered married under the law. It is a way to protect the rights of both spouses while they are apart. A legal separation can be used to provide financial protection, such as child support and alimony. It can also help to decide who will stay in the family home and who will be responsible for debts. It may be used if one spouse violates the marriage contract, if a spouse is not living up to their marital obligations, or if a couple simply needs some time apart. A legal separation may not be a permanent arrangement. If a couple decides to reunite or desires to end the legal separation, they may cooperate to dissolve the legal separation agreement, or either spouse may bring a request to the court to terminate it. The court may give each party the ability to submit evidence and arguments about the termination. After hearing all the evidence, the court will make a decision about whether to terminate the agreement. If it does, then the couple is considered legally married again.

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