I’m 79 and married to a hardheaded man. I don’t really want to go through a divorce, and I don’t want money from him; I just think we need to go our separate ways. Can we live apart without getting a divorce?

A marriage is a legally binding partnership, and you can't dissolve it simply on a handshake. If you don't file for divorce, you are married for all purposes. He could run up debts, and you could be held responsible for them even if the debts aren't in your name. What if your estranged husband were to become sick and have to be put into a nursing home? If he needs money to pay the bills, the state would look to your assets as well as his before it would step in to take care of him with Medicaid.

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