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→Getting a "legal separation"
===Getting a "legal separation"===
Some people go to family law lawyers to get a "legal separation." Separation is accomplished, in most cases, by simply leaving the family home with the intention of living separate lives, although technically speaking it isn't necessary to move out at all. Once you or your spouse has announced that the relationship is at an end, boom, : you're separated. That's it. There are no special legal documents to sign or file in court to become separated, and there is no such thing as a legal separation in British Columbia.
Now, to be fair, what people often mean by "legal separation" is a ''separation agreement''. That's something else altogether. A separation agreement is a contract that people use to record their agreement about things like how the children will be cared for, how their property will be shared, and how child support and spousal support will be paid. Separation agreements aren't always useful, they're not required by the law, and you can't be forced to sign a separation agreement.
You can find more information about separation agreements in the chapter [[Family Law Agreements]], in the section [[Separation Agreements]]. You can find out more about preparing to separate in [[How Do I Prepare for Separation?]], located in the Helpful Guides & Common Questions section of this resource. Look under ''Marriage, Separation and Divorce''.
===The date of separation===