You have to be separated for one year unless there has been adultery or abuse. If so then you can apply for divorce without delay.
Separation has a sepecific legal meaning so it is important to consult with a Family lawyer who can guide you through the separation process.
The process of ending an established marriage can drain family finances relative to the animosity between spouses and the marriage rights at stake. Disagreements over property and child custody inevitably require many trips to the lawyers and extended court appearances. The disruption in the lives of family members involves emotional fallout as it is without adding the frustration and anger over loss of money into the equation.