Make it Legal: Separation Agreement
From LawDepot Law Library
NOTE: The following information applies to the United States and Canada only; LawDepot does not currently offer a separation agreement for the UK or Australia.
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Does my separation agreement need to be witnessed?
Yes. You must choose a competent adult to witness the signing of your separation agreement. Both spouses should sign in the presence of this witness. The witness should then sign the document in the presence of both spouses.
Does my separation agreement need to be notarized?
No.
Does my separation agreement need to be reviewed by a lawyer?
No, your separation agreement does not need to be reviewed by a lawyer; however, it is a good idea to have it reviewed in order to make sure that all of the clauses you have written are valid.
If you are going have your separation agreement reviewed, make sure that you have it reviewed by your own lawyer (not your spouses) before you sign the agreement. Getting independent legal advice is also a good idea, because it prevents parties from later saying that they were at a disadvantage because they didn’t understand the separation agreement.
Do I need more than one copy of my separation agreement?
Yes, you need at least two copies: one for you and one for your spouse. You should print two copies of the agreement before signing it, so that each copy will have an original signature.
