When a couple has decided to live apart prior to a divorce, it is usually best to consult with a separation attorney to draft the appropriate documents and to file the appropriate paperwork in the local court house. This is because the months leading up to a divorce are vitally important to negotiating the best terms for both parties and separation documents are the foundations for such terms. For instance, a separation attorney will be able to review a couple's financial situation (including debts, assets and income) and help them structure a reasonable system for paying household bills and arranging for temporary alimony before formal divorce hearings. Quite often this process jolts the couple into a different perception of what their separation and divorce means and is often a deciding factor on whether they divorce at all.