The separation agreement is a legally binding document signed by both parties that contains all of the agreements made regarding the divorce. This contract outlines the decisions and rights of each party in regards to child support, spousal maintenance, custody and access (residential care), assets, debts, property and assets. The document can be more than 20 pages long, due to the number of decisions made and the legal language required. Why Do You Need a Separation Agreement? A separation agreement can help avoid a lot of problems in the future, including child custody, co-parenting arrangements, living arrangements and support payments. Using ADR and mediation to start separation Divorce issues have not changed but laws have. Previously, if you faced a divorce you would hire the best attorney you could find. The results of the court cases were heavily dependent on both the judge and lawyer you hired. This has changed in two ways. In the 1990s, the first step was to introduce updated...