In many cases, divorcing couples don’t realize that the exact date of separation may be crucial in the divorce process.
When I meet clients who are seeking a divorce, they often casually tell me that their marriage “really” ended months or years earlier; they just stayed married legally. They’ve typically chosen to uphold their legal union for fear of hurting their children or due to financial dependencies. But it's key in determining the legal date of separation. Work with an experienced divorce lawyer to ensure you establish the date correctly.
At what point do Pennsylvania divorce courts consider the date of separation?
In Pennsylvania, the 1980 Divorce Code presumes that the latest date of separation is the date on which the first legal step in the divorce process is taken and the complaint is served. The court does recognize though, that this is not always the case. It is termed “separate and apart” - the date couples cease cohabitation – whether they go on living in the same residence or not. This makes it possible for there to be a separation date earlier than the service of the divorce complaint.
The problem remains that couples often disagree on when they intend to end the marriage. Instead of being tied to legal action, the intention is typically tied to emotion- an emotion each spouse rarely experiences at the same time.
What are ways to prove the separation date in a marriage?
A claimed date of separation must be proven by evidence that shows a manifested, communicated, and independent intent to dissolve the marriage. As a family law attorney, there are some basic things to consider when seeking to establish a date of legal separation:
- Marital bed – Spouses who emotionally separate before legally separate typically live together. However, they may have stopped sharing a marital bed. This can be a key indicator of intent to end the union.
- Wedding bands – The wedding band is a universal symbol of love and marriage. The removal of wedding bands is also a universal symbol of a marriage ending.
- Joint finances – Even couples who live together prior to being married typically do not merge finances until after the wedding. As a result, separating the finances can serve as proof of intent to divorce. Submitting tax returns separately can also serve as evidence of the date of separation.
- Insurance policies – Couples cannot be on the same insurance policy until officially married. This is why dissolving joint insurance policies can be a key indicator of intent to dissolve a marriage.
- A party’s conduct – While a bit less concrete than the above examples, you can examine a party’s behavior to support the date of separation claims. If one or both spouses acted in a way that indicated intent to end the marriage, this can be used as evidence.
- Clear communication of intent to separate – Whether legal action was taken or not, if there is evidence that one spouse clearly communicated their intent to separate, this can be used to prove a particular date of separation. This has become easier to prove with advanced technologies and the likelihood that spouses would discuss this via email and/or text. This communication can also extend outside of the couple in question. If one spouse told a family member of their intent to separate, that exchange can be used as evidence, too.
- Celebrating holidays together – If one spouse claims their date of separation to be, for example, November 12th of any year, and that following Thanksgiving and Christmas was the first year the family spent the holidays apart, that can be used as evidence to support their claim- especially if all holidays thereafter were also celebrated separately.
- Pictures together - If one spouse claims a particular date of separation, and the other claims the marriage continued after that date, the latter spouse can use any pictures that may have been taken after the date in question as evidence to support their claim.
- Updated wills – Removing one spouse from the other’s will is a way to prove a particular date of separation and intent to end the marriage.
- New girlfriend or boyfriend – If either or both parties begin dating someone new and including them in family activities, this can be used to prove intent and recognition that the marriage is over.
Why does the date of separation in marriage matter?
Unless you are a family law attorney, you are likely wondering why the date of separation even matters so much. This is an understandable question. If spouses are agreeing to separate now, why dredge up the past?
The fact is, however, that the date of separation is extremely important in divorce cases. It’s a frame of reference for determining what is in and what is out of the marital pot. Any assets acquired by either spouse post-separation can be left out of the marital pot. For example, 401K contributions after separation are non-marital and thus would not be part of the pot to be divided during divorce.
Once money and assets are in play, it becomes easier to see why spouses may rush to claim dates of separation. Conversely, it can be a very tedious, emotional, and expensive exercise to prove the date of separation. If the date of separation is in dispute by only a few months, it is important you work with a family lawyer to conduct a cost-benefit analysis of whether it makes sense to make the date of separation an item in a dispute.
In all cases, family lawyers should work with clients to flesh out the case, understand their client’s unique situations and feelings, and guide them toward the best decision concerning how to approach their split.
