Occasionally customers visit the We the People Woodland Hills location with the misconception that in order to file a divorce in Los Angeles, they must first file for legal separation in Los Angeles first.
Although certainly possible, that’s not necessary. A couple who has decided that a divorce is the best option can pursue one directly by filing for divorce in Los Angeles, without the need of going through a legal separation first.
At the end of the divorce process, the couples are restored back to their single status and may choose to remarry after the divorce is granted. That’s one of the biggest differences between pursuing a divorce and a legal separation. Once legally separated your marital status does not change: you are still married.
Legal separations are mostly used when couples are not ready to go through a divorce, because of their religious beliefs, or in some cases when one spouse wishes to protect his or her financial assets from the reckless habits of the spouse (ex. gambling).
The court process for legal separation is exactly as the one for divorce in Los Angeles and the court can be asked to grant orders regarding assets and debts, child custody, child visitation, child support, and spousal support. The only difference in a legal separation is that at the end of the process the parties are only granted legal separation and are not restored to their single status.
The Document People is a network of legal document assistants who specialize divorce assistance. We look forward to offering you legal separation or divorce services at our location of We the People Santa Monica, We the People Woodland Hills, We the People Glendale and The Document People Torrance, San Fernando Anaheim and Oceanside.
The information contained in this blog – including information of a legal nature – is provided for informational purposes only, and should not be construed as legal advice on any subject matter.