Separation Agreement vs Clean Break agreement

[OneAzureFawn]

Ex is trying to encourage me into signing a Separation agreement that he has downloaded from a free site.
Already well into divorce at the final stages consent received just need to apply for final bit.
I am wondering what the point is, as I am guessing we need a clean break agreement.
Financials agreed in principal.
I have contacted Solicitor, waiting on call back (put off so far due to funds)

He is just pushing for this agreement, so wondering what is the point.

(New Mumsnet account, but not new user)

Are you still living with him

Nope. I had a legal separation encouraged by the solicitor. Of course he encouraged that - he had to be paid for it, and then for the divorce shortly afterwards. Thereafter, my attitude has been 'cut to the chase', go for what you actually want. Sign nothing until your solicitor has been through it with you.

Money mainly divided out, so bought new property for me and children

A separation agreement is a complete waste of time and money. My first husband insisted on this. Ridiculous.

That’s interesting. Why do you say that? I was going to get one drawn up for me and my not “D” P.

My solicitor told me it was waste if time and money. If you intend to divorce you may as well just do that. To draw up a separation agreement to make it as watertight as possible in the event of later dispute actually goes into more financial detail and such then just divorcing with the financial separation. Because they are trying to cover every possible scenario.

if you’re divorcing just do that and no need for the separation agreement

I’d be interested in your opinion on this too, as my Stbx also thought we should separate rather than divorce, it was me that decided divorce as I couldn’t see the point or the outcome of a separation. 6 months down the line, we have sold the marital home, each have our own pads and I feel lighter and happier, but much calmer and clearheaded so could possibly now talk through the problems infidelity etc, except he doesn’t want to, so I can kind of see the point of separation,as it calms you both down but unless you have relationship counselling, it is pointless. So divorce it is. Gosh that was cathartic

Yes a clean break. And def wait for your solicitors advice. Separation agreement if I remember rightly means you both can ask each other to provide the other financially if need be. Could be wrong, but as my stbx seems to be more interested in money than love, then that’s why I didn’t go with separation. So do not sign anything. I think men of the older generation (sorry don’t mean to be rude, not sure how old you are, I’m in early 60’s) still think divorce holds a stigma. Very blinkered and short sighted I think.