Divorce Alternatives

Legal Separation

A legal separation is financially similar to a divorce in the sense that your property, debt, child support, and spousal support obligations are legally determined. The difference between a divorce and a legal separation is essentially that the marriage is “put on pause.” The spouses must live in separate residences and they are not legally free to marry anyone else. If the legally separated couple wishes to divorce at a later point, then a final dissolution of marriage legal action must be initiated.

The most common reasons for pursuing a legal separation are:

  • - religious beliefs; or,
  • - serious, life threatening health considerations.

Traditional Marriage Counseling

Many couples benefit from marriage counseling through either their religious affiliations or through private marriage counseling services. Claire Sanderson Hanna frequently recommends this approach to her clients. Divorce is a serious, life-changing event and should only be considered once you have decided you no longer wish to be married or the marriage cannot be saved.

Collaborative Marital Reconciliation PlanFamily Reading

If you and your spouse are having problems but neither of you wish to take the final step of divorce, you may be excellent candidates for the comprehensive and highly supportive reconciliation approach offered by a collaborative team of professionals in the fields of mental health, finances and law.

Reconciling a marriage can be a difficult and confusing task for a couple in distress. However, a successful reconciliation becomes more likely if both the husband and the wife cooperate to recreate a positive marital relationship with one another.

A collaborative team of professionals may be the right support to help you work through the reconciliation process. Your collaborative team will be customized to meet your specific needs and may include professionals such as family law attorneys, child specialists, financial specialists, and relationship coaches. The team you develop will work collaboratively to offer the support, protection and guidance you and your spouse need to help you reconcile.

If you would like to learn more about how Ms. Hanna can help you develop a Marital Reconciliation Plan, then please call (505) 243-0900 or email: channa@nmdivorce.com