legal separation
n.
A court decree recognizing that a married couple is living apart and regulating the couple's mutual rights and liabilities. Also called judicial separation.
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A court decree recognizing that a married couple is living apart and regulating the couple's mutual rights and liabilities. Also called judicial separation.
The noun has 2 meanings:
Meaning #1:
a judicial decree regulating the rights and responsibilities of a married couple living apart
Synonym: judicial separation
Meaning #2:
(law) the cessation of cohabitation of man and wife (either by mutual agreement or under a court order)
Synonym: separation
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Legal separation (sometimes "separate maintenance," "divorce a mensa et thoro," or "divorce from bed-and-board") is a possible step towards divorce under the laws of many countries. A couple is legally separated only if the couple has successfully petitioned a court to recognize their separation; simply living apart does not constitute separation for these purposes.
Legal separation does not automatically lead to divorce. The couple may reconcile, in which case they need do nothing in order to remain married. If they do not reconcile, and wish to divorce after the statutory time period, they must file for divorce explicitly.
A period of legal separation may constitute grounds for divorce and some countries require some period of legal separation before a divorce can take effect (e.g. Spain, Ireland and Italy). Some states within the United States require separation before divorce. The required period of separation before filing for divorce varies.
In many jurisdictions that do not recognize the concept of spousal rape, a man cannot be prosecuted for the rape of his legally separated wife.
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![]() | Dictionary. The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2007. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. Read more | |
![]() | WordNet. WordNet 1.7.1 Copyright © 2001 by Princeton University. All rights reserved. Read more | |
![]() | Wikipedia. This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Legal separation". Read more |
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