"Separation & Divorce" covers two different events people often conflate when a relationship ends: separation, the factual state of no longer living together as a couple (no filing or court order required), and divorce, the formal legal process under the federal Divorce Act that ends a valid marriage. Common-law partners can separate but cannot divorce, since divorce applies only to legally married spouses.
Most people separate well before applying for divorce, and separating alone does not end a marriage or automatically resolve parenting, support, or property. Divorce applications generally fall into three types — simple, joint, or contested — depending on whether both spouses agree and whether either disputes the divorce or a related issue. Timelines vary widely: straightforward, uncontested applications can take a few months, while contested matters involving disputed parenting, support, or property can take considerably longer.
Someone starting out generally wants to understand, in order: that separation and divorce are legally different events; that separating doesn't require any filing; that only a court can grant a divorce, and only once certain grounds are met; and that formalizing the practical issues (often through a separation agreement) is usually worth doing whether or not divorce follows right away. A common source of confusion is assuming a long separation ends a marriage on its own — it doesn't; only a divorce order does that, and until one is granted, both spouses remain married with the legal consequences that involves. From there, the guides below cover the separation date, what to gather before separating, and moving out. For a shorter starting point, see the Separation & Divorce Insights hub.