Pros and Cons of a Trial Separation

Making a marriage work is not easy. Sometimes, couples end up feeling so frustrated with each other that living together does not seem like an attractive option. However, many couples feel scared of a divorce because of the legal and emotional implications attached to it.

When couples think that divorce is not the best option but also agree that the marriage has broken down, they try to explore other solutions. One of the solutions for such couples is to opt for a trial separation.

While many couples are opting for a trial separation these days, it is important to understand that trial separation is not a ‘one size fits all’ kind of a solution. A trial separation should be opted for only if one or both the partners are unsure about a divorce. This form of separation can also work when one or both the partners actually want to give their marriage a second chance.

A trial separation helps the couple to understand what they truly want; whether they want to ultimately divorce or make their marriage work. In that sense, trial separation can greatly reduce the feeling of guilt that people usually experience when they rush to obtain a divorce.

What is a Trial Separation?

Trial separation, as the name suggests, is when married couples decide to separate on a trial basis. The couple no longer live together during a trial separation and make separate living arrangements.

A trial separation usually allows couples to take their time and space and think through about their decision to divorce or what they want out of their marriage etc. Many couples who want to give their marriage a second chance hope that a trial separation may allow for the ‘distance makes a heart grow fonder’ rule to work.

It is common for couples to meet each other during the trial separation period to discuss and resolve their marital problems. Many couples opt for a trial separation while attending marriage counselling because living apart allows the couple to think about the real issues discussed during counselling sessions and minimise the bitterness that usually persists if the couple stays together.

Pros of a Trial Separation

• Gives Time and space to the couple
  
  Amidst heated arguments and bitter conversations, what most couples really need is a break. A trial separation allows couples to stay apart till things cool down and gives the couple the much-needed time and space away from each other to think things over.
  
  More often than not, when people are angry they tend to say and do things that they regret later. In a trial separation, bitterness is considerably reduced because people think things over while staying apart.


• Prevents a Rushed Divorce
  
  It is common for people to rush headlong into a divorce and then regret it later. Many people confess that they are still in love with their partner even long after the divorce is over. This usually happens when couples divorce each other in a fit of anger without resolving their real marital issues.
  
  A trial separation allows people to think clearly and assess whether or not divorce is truly what they want. The time away from each other helps people to make decisions in a better manner. Many couples opt for counselling during a trial separation to give their marriage a second chance.


• Helps to Ease Emotions
  
  When emotions run high, seldom are couples able to resolve any issue. A trial separation allows couples to take time off from each other to cool down their emotions. Subsequently, when partners resume a conflict or an argument, the discussion is likely to be more productive.


• Missing the Other Partner
  
  The old age, ‘you don’t know what you got until it’s gone’ holds true in some of the cases as far as trial separation is concerned.
  
  Many people realise the true worth of their partners when they are not physically close to them. This helps people understand how empty life would be if their partners were to leave them some day for good.

Cons of a Trial Separation

• Out of Sight Out of Mind
  
  Many people agree that in a time of crisis, the last thing that couples really want is a physical distance because that only builds more barriers in a broken marriage. A trial separation may be used as a means of running away from the issues or marital situations that need to be addressed on an urgent basis.


• False Sense of Security
  
  Many times, when people start staying apart they think that everything is fine and that the marriage can go back to being normal. However, truth is that a separation period might merely camouflage the issues that continue to exist.
  
  In such cases, when couples get back together after the trial separation, the same sets of issues start to resurface.