Separation and divorce are two different things. Separation occurs when at least one spouse intends to end the relationship and that intention is acted on or communicated, although the exact date of separation can sometimes be a complicated question depending on whether there was a physical separation, how the spouses continued living, and other factors. Divorce is the legal end of a marriage. Many parenting, support, property, and debt issues can be dealt with while spouses are separated, but a divorce is still required before either spouse can remarry.