judicial separation
1
8.2
- noun
- /dʒuˈdɪʃəl ˌsɛpəˈreɪʃən/
- UK
:
separación judicial
- In some cases, a judicial separation allows spouses to live independently while still being officially married.
Examples
-
In Scotland, unlike some other Protestant countries, these remained the only grounds for a full divorce until the twentieth century, although judicial separation precluding remarriage was allowed (as it had been before the Reformation) on the grounds of cruelty.
Academic text (1996) -
After years of living apart, they decided to file for a judicial separation to clarify their rights and responsibilities.
-
The couple opted for a judicial separation instead of a divorce to avoid the complications of ending their marriage legally.
Synonyms
95
3.7
When married people stop living together but are not divorced
1
4.9
An official decision by a court or agreement that lets a married couple live apart while still married
How Final
963
2.9
- UK
1
8.2
Surface Forms
Morphology
The noun is directly built from 'judicial' (relating to courts) + 'separation' (the ending of cohabitation of partners), so the combined meaning — a court/legal separation — is easily inferable. The construction simply specifies the type of separation and has clear cross-linguistic equivalents, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents should understand it.
Etymology
Judicial separation comes from a judge's decision: judicial means made by a judge and separation means living apart. Imagine a judge writing rules about money and the children. That is why it means 'living apart' while 'still married' with legal arrangements instead of a divorce.