My ex and I reconciled and separated again. Does the second separation affect my support claim?

Reconciliation and a subsequent second separation are significant facts in a support claim. If spouses reconcile after a first separation and then separate again, the question of how to measure the relationship's length and the basis for any support entitlement must be revisited.

In general, courts will look at the entire period the parties cohabited as a couple — including the post-reconciliation period — when assessing the length of the relationship for SSAG purposes. The original separation period, if short, may not significantly reset the clock. What matters is the total time the parties lived together in a spousal relationship.

However, any support paid during the first separation period may be relevant to the calculation, and any separation agreement or court order from the first separation may need to be revisited or released before new proceedings can proceed cleanly. If the parties had an agreement during the first separation that was not formally ended upon reconciliation, its status needs to be clarified. A lawyer can help untangle the history and determine how the total relationship period is best characterized for your claim.