Post by J. P. Gilliver (John)What, in this context, constitutes an end to separation? In other words,
how easy is it for a partner who _doesn't_ want a divorce to reset the
clock? I presume simple _contact_ doesn't end separation.
It counts from when you stop living together as a couple. Normally,
this will be taken from the date when one partner (or both) moves out of
the marital home. You can claim an earlier date but you have to show
that you were living completely separately, more like flat mates than a
couple. This means things like eating separately, not doing each
other's laundry, having completely independent social lives etc.
I remember a one time colleague who had her divorce thrown out because
the judge didn't think they were living sufficiently independently (I
forget, if I ever knew, what specific problems the judge had). The
irony of the situation was that, by the time it went to court, they had
actually been living at separate addresses for the necessary two years
but, because they'd jumped the gun and tried to speed things up, it
added a few months to their divorce.
You're right to think that simple contact doesn't end the separation,
although it could, if they fell into bed with one another, for old
time's sake. Or at least, if either of them 'fessed up to this!
--
Best wishes, Serena
I must say I find television very educational. The minute somebody turns
it on, I go to the library and read a good book (Groucho Marx)