Well, there are generally two important things to consider when deciding whether to temporarily separate or get a divorce. The first one is represented by the feelings the two partners have for each other. If there is still love withing the relationship, there is still a possibility for working out most of their problems, and the marriage should be given a second chance. The second aspect to be considered is the wellbeing of the children. Parents need to be responsible and decide, with objectivity, whether the children are better off in a family with two parents that don't want to be together, or in a broken family, where each parent has the chance to continue his life peacefully.