Separation Agreements

Separation Agreements or Deeds of Separation can be between both married and unmarried couples, and are less formal than a Divorce as they do not involve the courts.

Separation Agreements may be entered into by couples who do not feel that they are ready for the formality and finality of Divorce or as a step towards sorting out things such as property and finances prior to beginning formal Divorce Proceedings.

Separation Agreements are a more formal way of acknowledging that you and your spouse no longer live together and also set out any agreements you have made.
They may cover things such as:

What will happen to any shared property/properties
How any joint assets will be divided
How any debts may be divided
Residence and contact for any children you may have
Financial arrangements for any children you may have

It is worth remembering that because Separation Agreements do not involve the court system they are not enforceable by the court system so they may be harder to uphold if your situation changes. They are not the same as a divorce so they will not make it possible for you to remarry.

For further information on this or any other family matter, contact our family law team today.