Separation Agreements
CHILDREN
Although separation of parents can be hard for children, creating a clear arrangement for their continued care is one of the best ways to minimize the disruption to their lives. If you and your spouse can come to an agreement about child support, custody, holiday schedules, and communications between the two of you when changes or parenting decisions need to be made, you are in a much better position to present a united front to your children and ease their transition to a different lifestyle.
DIVISION OF PROPERTY
“Separate and apart” means someone is moving out. Therefore, the first question is often: which spouse will stay in the house, or will you both move and put the house on the market? Joint checking, savings, and brokerage accounts can also be sources of disagreement. We can advise you while you think through these issues, identify possible divisions, and come to an agreement with your spouse that will allow you both to move forward.
CONTINUING OBLIGATIONS
Although a temporary separation can lead to a permanent divorce, there are often obligations that require you to remain in each other’s lives. For example, from a legal perspective support obligations may end when your child reaches eighteen, but most parents agree that paying for a college education is part of their support obligation. Alimony, life insurance, and retirement accounts may also require continuing payments or attention. We can help you assess your ongoing needs and create a plan for managing them with as little hassle as possible.