Unlike many other states, Florida does not have a formal process in which a couple can legally separate.
If a couple needs a court to help them unwind their lives together and move forward individually, the legal channel for doing that is a divorce.
There are many people in the Tampa Bay area who may feel uncomfortable with getting a divorce.
Some may have religious views against divorce or come from cultures which disfavor it. In other situations, people may have emotional or financial reasons to stay married.
At the same, those who are reluctant to divorce may have a critical need for legal protection both for themselves and, if they have them, their minor children.
While pursuing them can be complicated, there are options for Pasco County residents in this situation.
Usually, someone wanting to separate but stay married will need to negotiate
There are ways a Floridan can ask a court to set up a parenting plan, child support and spousal support even without filing for a divorce.
With respect to a dividing a couple’s property and debts long term, the spouses will have to sign a separation agreement or a postnuptial agreement.
These agreements give each souse some measure of protection and can spell out in detail their respective rights and responsibilities. However, if either spouse wants a divorce later, the court may re-visit the couple’s agreements.
The couple must be able to sit down and agree on how they will divide their property for this option to work as an alternative to divorce. It will take some careful forward planning to accomplish this divorce workaround.
It may also require help from a mediator or a legal team dedicated to resolving marital conflicts in a spirit of collaboration.