In Colorado, a person seeking to legally sever ties from his or her spouse can either file for a Dissolution of Marriage (Divorce) or Legal Separation. So, what is the difference? While the process to obtain a Divorce or a Legal Separation is the same, and both sever each spouse’s financial ties to each other as well as having the court decide parental responsibilities (parenting time, decision-making, and child support) if minor children are involved, there is one major difference. With a Legal Separation, the parties are still married and neither party can remarry. There may be advantages to a Legal Separation for insurance, pension, or religious reasons. However, six months after a decree of Legal Separation has been entered, either party may petition for a Divorce and the Court is required to grant the petition to convert the Legal Separation to a Dissolution of Marriage. Have a question about whether Divorce or Legal Separation is right for your situation?
Contact me for a free 30-minute consultation – (719) 726-0133 or stephanie@stephanieshannonlaw.com