ABSTRACT
Introduction Where a marital relationship has broken down but the parties have not obtained a decree to end it, the law affords much more protection to the parties than that given to former cohabitants. In many cases, although the marriage has broken down, the parties may not choose to go through a divorce, perhaps for religious or other reasons. They may choose just to separate but may not wish to make their separation formal. However, there will be financial consequences of the separation in terms of how one spouse is to be maintained or who is to pay for the maintenance of any children.
