What disadvantages are there to being legally separated, but still married?
There are numerous disadvantages to a legal separation, but the primary problem is enforcement. Divorce judgments are far more easily and effectively enforced than separation agreements standing alone. A judgment of divorce can be readily enforced by a relatively quick application to the court that issued it. Available remedies include contempt of court, which results in a fine and/or imprisonment; sequestration, by which the defaulting spouse must give up his accounts or other property as security for the payment of an obligation in the future; a money judgment, which can be enforced by restraint and/or seizure of accounts and other assets, as well as license forfeiture and income deduction order, to name a few. On the other hand, to enforce a separation agreement a whole separate lawsuit must be brought in which the breach is first proved at a full trial. Because a trial is involved, delays of several months or more can occur while the pleading and disclosure phases are completed. As
