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That will often mean that the property is jointly owned by you and your spouse (depending on your state's rules about property ownership). For example, a court will treat the money you earn and the things you buy during the trial separation as property acquired by a married person. If you and your spouse need a break from the relationship, one option is to live apart while deciding whether to divorce-a "trial separation." Legally, not much changes during a trial separation-all marital property laws still apply. In most states, only one (legal separation) changes your legal status-but all three have the potential to affect your legal rights. There are three types of separation: trial, permanent, and legal. Although a separation doesn't end your marriage, it does affect the financial responsibilities between you and your spouse before the divorce is final. Separation means that you are living apart from your spouse but are still legally married until you get a judgment of divorce. When it comes to marriage, separation isn't the same as divorce-even if you have a "judgment of separation" from a court.
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