Legal separation is a formal arrangement where spouses remain married but live separately and address issues such as property division, child custody, and support through a legal agreement. From a financial standpoint, the cost of legal separation tends to be lower compared to divorce due to several factors:

Legal Fees: Legal fees for legal separation are often less than those for divorce since the process may involve less paperwork, court appearances, and negotiation.
Filing Fees: Filing fees for legal separation documents are generally lower compared to divorce filings in many jurisdictions.
Mediation Costs: Mediation, which is commonly used to negotiate terms of legal separation, tends to be more cost-effective than litigation involved in divorce proceedings.

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