I am aware of their lengthy system even for wealthy people (celebrities incld) who have high powered lawyers failing on child custody matters so I am leaning towards the friendlier way you suggest, let it alone and be separated. Although, I would like to be able to answer convincingly to any new...
I got married to a South American in Sept 2000 in USA, we have a daughter born in 2001. We then had some troubles and lived apart in Sept 2005.
We split up the assets & then she bought a home in her home country and I bought one in Phoenix, (bad move as I later short sold it on a loss).
Our...