To separate legal issues for decision. The judge usually issues one final order that decides all of the issues in a case. For example, in a divorce case, the final decree ends the marriage, divides the marital property and debt, and provides for a parenting plan if there are children. Sometimes, however, the judge will find it necessary to separate or "bifurcate" the issues. The court could, for example, divorce the parties (i.e. End the marriage), but bifurcate the property division issues, which are decided later.