It's a common misconception that you have to file certain paperwork when you want to separate, but this is not the case. We talk about one of the first steps to getting a separation which is a separation agreement. 

A separation document is a contract to agree on how you want to go about things like child support and how you want to handle your finances.

We talk about a few things that people without separation agreements do and how much of a mess they have made for both parties. 

One of the downsides of a separation agreement is the other party can decide not to sign it or not take it very seriously. If this should happen, we recommend that you go up to your ex-spouse and have an open-ended conversation about important matters with them. 

So you want to start your separation agreement, but you don't know where to start? It would be best if you started by gathering all of your important financial documents to fully inform your legal team to give you the best legal advice that we can offer.  

What do you put into your separation agreement? You put in who will have custody and the details of that custody agreement in there and how you want to handle your finances from here.  We advise you don't put too much in there, but you can really put whatever you feel is necessary to have a successful separation. 

When you or your partner does not abide by your agreement, we will try to negotiate without going to court, but if one party does not hold up their end of the deal, it will be taken to court, and it is a liable contract.  

If you want to change your agreement, if both parties agree, then you can come into the office and get whatever you want to change, whether it is a new custody agreement or if it is a new amount of child support, it can be changed. 

Overall, the benefits of a separation agreement are that it is legally binding and that your partner cannot back out if they sign it. It is also helpful because it can save you money by spending less time in court, and it will just be a lot less stress on everyone.