Being separated does not mean that marital funds that have been accumulated over the marriage cannot be used for mortgage payments, even if only one spouse occupies the home.
When post separation payments are made from income that has been accumulated following the separation, it is usually necessary to determine the date of classification to know if the equity from those payments is considered nonmarital or marital property once the divorce process begins.
The date of classification is the point in time when state law considers that you and your spouse are no longer acquiring marital property. It varies by state and can be: