Legal separation is similar to a divorce in that spouses can seek orders for child support, custody, the division of property and debt, and spousal support. It is not a divorce because after the legal separation process, the couple is still technically married.
Florida is one of only a few states that does not have a legal separation process in place. This means that you are not required to—and, in fact, cannot—request a family law court to put the above-mentioned orders in place. Those details must be determined during the formal divorce process.