If you’re thinking about getting divorced but you’re not quite ready to do it yet, you may want to consider a trial separation. This is where couples live apart for a short time — much in the same way that many young couples cohabitate before marriage. They want to test out the new living situation before committing to it.
You can learn a lot from a trial separation. For one thing, it gives you a chance to put the emotional side of the split on hold and think rationally about what you want. If you’re considering divorce after an argument with your spouse, for instance, it gives you time to cool down, consider what the argument really meant and decide what is best for your future.
On top of that, you can find out what you value most if you do get divorced. For instance, maybe you thought you could make ends meet without any spousal support. After two months apart, it could become clear that that is not true.
The trial separation also allows you to consider all sorts of practical matters about divorce that you may not have given much thought to. Where will you live? Do you have time to work and take care of your children? What is the easiest way to divide child custody? What kinds of things do you need to get in your own name? There are plenty of questions to ask.
As you work your way through this process, you need to know what legal options you have. An experienced attorney can help you.
