Financial Dictionary

BIFURCATION - Bifurcation is the act of dividing a trial into two parts for various reasons. Splitting a trial into two parts: a liability phase and a penalty phase. In some cases, a new jury may be empaneled to deliberate for the penalty phase.

In family law, bifurcation occurs when the divorce itself is determined separately from the related issues of custody and visitation, child support, alimony, and property division.