Sometimes couples want to start living separately without getting divorced. For some families, this is an interim step while they evaluate whether they want to get divorced, while for others it is just a new phase in their relationship. At Westfield Mediation, LLC, we help people in both these situations create plans for their new set-up. By working with a mediator to create a parenting and financial plan during their separation, couples avoid many of the pitfalls that can lead to arguments down the road.
While there is no official legal separation in our state, many families find that living separately instead of divorcing enables them to minimize the conflicts in their relationship, while continuing to share health insurance and financial responsibilities. If they are contemplating divorce in the future, they can start following a parenting and financial agreement for a period of time and see how it works for them. If necessary, they can then modify any terms before it becomes their official divorce decree.
For other couples “living apart together” is a way to create more independence in their lives. As recently reported in The New York Times, this arrangement has become more common in recent years. According to the Census Bureau the number of couples living apart together with no intention of getting divorced has risen 25% over the last twenty years. Studies found that women are often the driving force behind this arrangement because they want a break from the burdens of maintaining a home that tend to fall disproportionately to women.
Whether couples are seeking a baby step toward divorce or just a more independent structure for their marriage, a mediator can help smooth the process. In mediation, couples work together with a mediator to create a new plan for living separately that makes sense for their family.
For more information about separation mediation, please contact Randi M. Albert, JD, or Michelle Weinberg, M. Ed., Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, at Westfield Mediation, LLC, at 908.913.0373. View our website at www.westfieldnjmediation.com or email us at [email protected]
While there is no official legal separation in our state, many families find that living separately instead of divorcing enables them to minimize the conflicts in their relationship, while continuing to share health insurance and financial responsibilities. If they are contemplating divorce in the future, they can start following a parenting and financial agreement for a period of time and see how it works for them. If necessary, they can then modify any terms before it becomes their official divorce decree.
For other couples “living apart together” is a way to create more independence in their lives. As recently reported in The New York Times, this arrangement has become more common in recent years. According to the Census Bureau the number of couples living apart together with no intention of getting divorced has risen 25% over the last twenty years. Studies found that women are often the driving force behind this arrangement because they want a break from the burdens of maintaining a home that tend to fall disproportionately to women.
Whether couples are seeking a baby step toward divorce or just a more independent structure for their marriage, a mediator can help smooth the process. In mediation, couples work together with a mediator to create a new plan for living separately that makes sense for their family.
For more information about separation mediation, please contact Randi M. Albert, JD, or Michelle Weinberg, M. Ed., Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, at Westfield Mediation, LLC, at 908.913.0373. View our website at www.westfieldnjmediation.com or email us at [email protected]
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