Legal Separation Lawyer in Westchester & Hudson Valley
Helping Our Clients Reach Fair Separation Agreements
If you and your spouse are looking for an alternative to divorce, whether permanently or for the time being, a legal separation may be right for you. A legal separation in New York permits spouses in a marriage to disentangle their financial and legal affairs and live separately from one another without legally ending their marriage. Legal separations are voluntarily entered into by both parties, which means both spouses must consent to the terms of a separation agreement before it can go into effect.
Representation from the Law Offices of Audrey J. Lutz Parma PC can help you establish agreeable terms to your legal separation. A variety of issues must be addressed and agreed upon, but our attorneys can provide the legal advice and guidance necessary to help you decide what’s right for you. Rest assured that our attorney is also a compassionate advocate who appreciates how a legal separation can be difficult for clients to experience. You can entrust our legal separation lawyer in Westchester & Hudson Valley to provide considerate and empathetic legal support all along the way.
For more information, contact the Law Offices of Audrey J. Lutz Parma PC online or call (914) 419-2136 now!
How Does a Legal Separation Work?
Legal separation is not the same as divorce. Under legal separation, spouses officially remain married but make legal arrangements to lead separate lives. These arrangements are often the same as those that are determined during divorce, such as property division, spousal support, child custody, child support, and more. As a result, an agreeable separation arrangement can be efficiently converted to a divorce settlement if separate spouses ultimately wish to pursue divorce.
Because a legal separation is “less final” than divorce, it’s often used by married couples who want to split up but are unsure if divorce is the right answer for them. Legal separation is also a valuable tool for spouses whose religion or values don’t permit divorce, and it may also be used to ensure one spouse can continue to benefit from benefits the other receives while living apart.
Is Legal Separation Permanent?
Legal separation lasts for as long as both spouses wish it to last. This means that spouses can get back together at any time and nullify the agreement, often by choosing to live together again with the intent to reconcile.
It’s possible for spouses to specify that living together won’t necessarily void the separation agreement. This allows spouses to attempt reconciliation without hindering the provisions of the separation agreement. Ask a legal separation attorney in Westchester and the Hudson Valley for more information about how you can protect your separation agreement if you intend to attempt reconciliation with your spouse.
When Can I File for Divorce after Legal Separation?
One year must elapse from the successful filing of the legal separation before one or both spouses can file for a no-fault divorce. Residency requirements might also apply, so seek legal help to learn more.
Do You Need Legal Assistance?
If you and your spouse have been discussing legal separation, seek legal representation from experienced counsel. Our attorney at the Law Offices of Audrey J. Lutz Parma PC has many years of experience assisting clients like you with difficult family legal matters like yours.
If divorce doesn’t feel right, maybe legal separation is right for you. Contact our legal separation lawyer for Westchester and the Hudson Valley online for more information.