When I went to the court house to pick up the papers for separation & for divorce (to compair them) I asked about when separation was considered to be & they said the same thing your lawyer said.

We are considered to have been separated about 12 years ago when I moved out for a few months & then when I came back, I have had my own room since then. Don't know what difference it makes in the overall scheme of things though.

For the FAFSA, you have to go by their definition

Debbie