separation

i want to separate from my husband. we have one child at a residential boarding school who suffers from manic depression. we have another at home who is 12. my intent is to share custody. i need to leave but am afraid if i do so I could be seen as abandoning my children. Can i take him with me? what should i do? i am currently the wife and sole support of the family. my husband has been out of work for about 5 months but that could change. do i have any right to ask him to leave?

Anytime you want custody of a child and you anticipate that that might be contested, you are always better off to remain with the child -- whether it's in the current home or whether you take the child with you to the new place.

To get him to leave, you can file a petition for dissolution and get a restraining order at the same time.