Not all married couples who find they cannot stay together go through with a divorce. Some couples simply separate and lead their lives largely apart, often for years, without legally ending their marriage.

There are several reasons why some couples go down this route. Many people's religious beliefs frown on divorce, so separation is a useful compromise. Other couples want to remain married and in each other's lives, but no longer want to live together. There are also financial reasons that couples may split up but stay married. For example, Social Security benefits for spouses do not fully vest unless the couple was married for at least 10 years.

Separated couples generally face the same issues that come up in a divorce, such as property division, spousal maintenance and child support/custody. While an informal "handshake" agreement on those issues may seem like an inexpensive option, experts caution against it. One spouse may change his or her mind later on, or run up a large debt that - since the two are still legally married - could end up becoming the other spouse's problem, as debt collectors go after him or her.

In Minnesota as well as several other states, legal separation is an option. Though the process is different than divorce, the time and financial expenses may be similar to a traditional divorce, with the major difference being that the spouses are still legally married at the end. Another option is to draw up a legal separation agreement to put down on paper each spouse's obligations and rights. A legal separation agreement is legally binding, which would help settle future disagreements about alimony or child custody.

Whether to pursue separation or divorce depends on each marriage's individual circumstances. Consulting with a family law attorney can help a spouse choose the best path for him or her.

Source: Forbes, "Legal separation or Divorce: Which is Better Financially?" Jeff Landers, Jan. 10, 2012