NEBRASKA Part 61

 LEGAL SEPARATION

If you or your spouse did not live in the state long enough to file for a divorce, you can file for a legal separation. However, Nebraska still needs jurisdiction to decide custody. See the “HOME STATE” section above. The things you and your lawyer must do are just about the same as when you file for a divorce. The costs are the same. The Judge can make decisions about the children, support, division of property and debts, restraining orders, etc. Some people confuse “Legal Separation” with a trial separation. A Legal Separation is not a temporary thing that gives you and your spouse time to work things out. A Legal Separation is a final court order for people who do not meet the residency requirements for a divorce, or for people who do not wish to be divorced because of their religious beliefs or other reasons. The only difference between a divorce and a Legal Separation is that a Legal Separation does not legally end the marriage.