Legal separation and divorce are both legal processes that involve formally separating from your spouse, but they have key differences. In a legal separation, spouses remain married but live apart and may address issues such as child custody, support, and property division through a legally binding agreement. Divorce, on the other hand, terminates the marital relationship entirely, allowing both parties to remarry and typically involves a court decree outlining the division of assets, custody arrangements, and other matters. Legal separation may be preferred in cases where couples want to retain certain benefits of marriage, such as health insurance coverage or religious reasons, while still living separately.