[header] How to protect yourself during legal separation [title] Stay in the home. [step] If you move out of the house, then you reduce the chances of getting joint custody. A judge will interpret your actions as a sign that you don't care about your children. 
[substeps] If it is difficult to stay in the same house as your spouse, then you might want to " time-share. " under this arrangement, you both live in the house but at different times.