A judicial decree regulating the rights and responsibilities of a married couple living apart.

synonym: legal separation.

Roget 905: divorce, divorcement; separation; judicial separation, separate maintenance; separatio a mensa et thoro [Lat.], separatio a vinculo matrimonii [Lat.].    trial separation, breakup; annulment.    widowhood, viduity^†, weeds.    widow, widower; relict; dowager; divorcee; cuckold; grass widow, grass widower; merry widow.    ... show more