Couples who are unhappy with their marriage but don’t want to divorce just yet have two options: legal and trial separation. A trail separation is a more informal agreement between spouses to spend some time living apart. While this might seem like a no-hassle option, there are some things to keep in mind before trying one yourself.
Trail Separation: Testing the Waters
Gives you space
A trail separation, as the name implies, give you and your spouse some space from each other. This time away lets you both have a chance to cool off and think things over. It might also help you view your marriage problems from a different light.
Financial consideration
Doing a trail separation means you won’t have to worry about setting aside money to pay for legal fees. Instead, you and your spouse skip the courts and handle things on your own. This can help you save money and avoid potential hassle.
However, your financial obligations still remain during a trail separation. For example, say your spouse goes out and buys a new car during your trial separation. This new debt would be considered marital debt if you decide to progress to divorce.
Less pressure
Similar to the financial aspect, a trail separation doesn’t have the kind of pressure that comes with a legal one. Legal separations are more of a steeping stone to divorce. You’ll have to work out child custody, bill payments, living arrangements, and more during a legal separation, which will also be relevant in a divorce.
However, trial separations let you have a bit more breathing room. You’re able to think more about your marriage than other matters. Figuring out the problems and where you fit into them might help you find ways to fix your marriage.
A trail separation lets you and your spouse see what divorced life may be like. You’ll both be able to think about your marriage and figure out if you can work through your problems. Even if you feel like you can’t, you were able to figure that out through a less expensive and simpler process.