Legal Separation
In a legal separation case the parties can ask the court for orders dividing their property, assets, and debts. If they have minor children together, the court can also make orders related to parental rights and responsibilities (custody), parent-child contact (parent-time), and child support.
The parties will still married to each other and can't marry anyone else.
The process to ask for a legal separation is the same as the process to ask for a divorce, and uses the same forms. Use the forms at the bottom of this web page and follow the instructions on the Divorce Process web page.
Later Asking for a Divorce
If the court grants a legal separation and either party later decides they want to be divorced, they must file a new case and complete the forms to ask for a divorce. They must also pay a new filing fee or ask to have the fee waived. See the Divorce web page for information about divorce cases.
Related Topics
- Annulment
When one or both parties ask the court to declare that their marriage was never legally valid.
When one or both parties who entered into a civil union in Vermont ask the court to legally end that relationship and make orders about child support, parental rights and responsibilities (custody), parent–child contact (parenting time), and the division of property and debts.
When one or both parties as the court to legally end their marriage and make orders about child support, parental rights and responsibilities (custody), parent–child contact (parenting time), and the division of property and debts.
When one or both parents who are not married to each other ask the court to make orders about about child support, parental rights and responsibilities (custody), parent–child contact (parenting time), and legal parentage (paternity). Someone could also start a parentage case to establish who the legal parent of a child is, whether or not they are married to the other parent.
Forms
Find forms for legal separation cases at the bottom of this web page. Read about forms generally on the About Court Forms web page.
Not finding what you're looking for?
Call or email the Access and Resource Center at 802-879-1185 or selfhelp@vtcourts.gov.