If a divorce ends the marriage then a legal separation just pauses it, but with most of the same results of a dissolution such as division of property and providing for support orders.  The process to file fora legal separation is similar to a divorce, except it is started by filing a different complaint than you would in a divorce, and as I said before, the court can enter orders regarding support, debt allocation, and property division.  One important difference is that after you have completed the legal separation the court declares you legally separated and not divorced, so unlike a dissolution you are not able to remarry.