If your spouse had a larger income and carried health benefits for the family, consider filing
for a legal separation rather than a divorce, at least for the time being.
Some couples prefer to file
for legal separation rather than divorce because they hope for reconciliation.
Couples sometimes opt
for legal separation rather than divorce because of religious beliefs held by one or both spouses.
Not exact matches
Sometimes couples may only seek a
legal separation rather than filing
for divorce, which will allow the parties to live both separate and apart while still enjoying the
legal benefits of marriage such as continuing healthcare or insurance coverage.
Costs at that level are certainly the exception
rather than the norm but
for many separating couples, a lack of information or clarity in how much there
legal costs are likely to be only adds to the stress of
separation.
Rather than go forward with divorce right from the start, some couples — typically
for religious or financial reasons — choose to become legally separated: a process that allows
for a division of property without ending the marriage, but this option is not available in Michigan because the state does not recognize
legal separation.
Complete a petition
for legal separation if you seek
separation rather than divorce.
The spouse who is served with a complaint
for legal separation can respond with a counterclaim
for divorce or annulment; when the grounds
for the
separation are sufficient, the respondent can elect to terminate the marriage
rather than simply separate.