When people decide to live together and have kids, they hope they will be together forever. Unfortunately, it doesn't always work out that way. Life can get pretty complicated. Sometimes, problems come up — not just the little everyday problems like who is going to take out the garbage, but big problems that parents just can't seem to solve, no matter how hard they try.
Parents separate when they can't solve their problems, and they decide they can't live together anymore.
Some married parents who separate decide to get a divorce, because they no longer want to be married.
You can find out more about the differences between separation and divorce, and what is involved in the Law section.