If I file for legal separation vs. Divorce, am I entiled to child support for my 3 children and alimony for myself? ...

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If I file for legal separation vs. Divorce, am I entiled to child support for my 3 children and alimony for myself?

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Filing for legal separation

Filing for legal separation can be a good option if you and your spouse are not getting along very well, but you are unsure whether you want to file for divorce. A legal separation does not end a marriage, but will decide many of the issues a judge would hear in a divorce case. For example, you can ask the judge to consider a child support order. In addition, the judge may need to consider child custody, including whether you and your spouse will share custody of your three children or whether one spouse will have primary physical custody. Whether you are entitled to spousal support in California will depend on several factors, including the financial situation and the ages of both spouses. However, these are the same factors a family law judge considers in a divorce case, so the outcome will likely be the same whether you file for legal separation or divorce in California. If you would like more information about the legal effect of a separation in California, read http://www.freelegalaid.com/nav/california/divorce-and-family-law/article/legal-separation-california.To learn more about filing for legal separation in your county, visit the California Court’s website, http://www.courts.ca.gov/selfhelp-divorce.htm.

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Filing for legal separation

Filing for legal separation can be a good option if you and your spouse are not getting along very well, but you are unsure whether you want to file for divorce. A legal separation does not end a marriage, but will decide many of the issues a judge would hear in a divorce case. For example, you can ask the judge to consider a child support order. In addition, the judge may need to consider child custody, including whether you and your spouse will share custody of your three children or whether one spouse will have primary physical custody. Whether you are entitled to spousal support in California will depend on several factors, including the financial situation and the ages of both spouses. However, these are the same factors a family law judge considers in a divorce case, so the outcome will likely be the same whether you file for legal separation or divorce in California. If you would like more information about the legal effect of a separation in California, read http://www.freelegalaid.com/nav/california/divorce-and-family-law/article/legal-separation-california.To learn more about filing for legal separation in your county, visit the California Court’s website, http://www.courts.ca.gov/selfhelp-divorce.htm.