What is the difference between legal separation and divorce?

Legal separation and divorce are both common processes that couples take in order to end a marriage. The main difference between the two is that a legal separation does not completely dissolve the marriage, whereas a divorce does. In West Virginia, legal separation is defined as a court-ordered arrangement in which married couples live separately, while still being legally married. If a couple chooses to pursue legal separation, they must still fulfill all marriage-related obligations such as paying bills and providing support for one another. However, it does allow them to live separate lives and allows them to establish certain restrictions and conditions. Divorce, however, is a court-ordered termination of a marriage. Once a divorce is finalized, both parties are legally free to move on with their lives as if they had never been married in the first place. When two people divorce, they no longer share obligations, which allows them to lead separate lives without any legal strings attached. The differences between legal separation and divorce can be summed up as follows: legal separation allows two people to remain legally married, while divorce terminates the marriage and allows each party to move forward with their lives independently.

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What is the difference between legal separation and divorce?

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