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Lamar Odom, Khloe Kardashian Are Separated: Reports

By Betty Wang, JD on August 26, 2013 | Last updated on March 21, 2019

Khloe Kardashian and Lamar Odom are over, sort of. TMZ reports that Khloe "'effectively' declared separation" after she allegedly threw Lamar out of the house last week. Odom apparently refused an intervention due to his alleged drug problem, sources told the website.

TMZ claims Khloe had made it clear to Lamar that if he didn't seek help for his alleged addiction, then their relationship would be over and she wouldn't want to have anything to do with him anymore.

If the couple has separated, legally or informally, then it could be the first step toward a divorce. What exactly would a separation mean for the high-profile couple?

What Is a Separation?

An informal separation and a legal separation are different. An informal separation is a route that many married couples take while they're contemplating a more permanent split (i.e., divorce).

By contrast, legal separation involves a much more formalized process, wherein a couple's child support, child custody, and property division issues are often determined with a court's help.

In a legal separation, the couple will still legally be married, but they will often live separately, with their own respective property rights and child custody times. Each spouse works on taking the next step, whether that be an ultimate split or getting back together.

One benefit of a legal separation over an informal separation: Through obtaining a court order in a legal separation, any future disputes are more likely to be easily resolved or enforced.

Because separated spouses are still technically married, they can't marry someone else (unless they want to be charged with bigamy); they can, however, pretty easily reconcile with one another. A divorce, on the other hand, requires the formalized process of a marriage if the couple decides to get back together.

Legal separation orders are often more straightforward than divorce orders, which often involve battles over certain assets and children. A legal separation is a temporary solution for couples who aren't ready for a complete severance of their marriage.

Until more facts are disclosed, the current state of Khloe Kardashian and Lamar Odom's relationship is still unknown. If reports of a separation are true, let's hope they each have a nice, high-priced divorce lawyer who can explain these differences to them.

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