Legal Separation

Legal separation (sometimes "separate maintenance," "divorce a mensa et thoro," or "divorce from bed-and-board") is a possible step towards divorce under the laws of many countries. A couple is legally separated only if the couple has successfully petitioned a court to recognize their separation; simply living apart does not constitute separation for these purposes.
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Noun
1. a judicial decree regulating the rights and responsibilities of a married couple living apart
(synonym) judicial separation
(hypernym) decree, edict, fiat, order, rescript
(classification) law, jurisprudence
2. (law) the cessation of cohabitation of man and wife (either by mutual agreement or under a court order)
(synonym) separation
(hypernym) cessation, surcease
(classification) law, jurisprudence