A legal separation agreement is very similar to a divorce decree, covering many of the basic topics which include child support, child custody, child visitation rights and the division and separation of marital assets. Couples seeking divorce do not need to file for a formal separation, but it is an option in many states. The primary purpose of this agreement is to protect both parties until a final divorce decree can be agreed upon. In the event that the couple cannot agree to terms of the agreement, the judge will often move to divorce proceedings. If a separation agreement is agreed upon and the marriage proceeds to a divorce, in most cases, the language will appear in the divorce decree as the judge will assume that because the terms were already agreed upon, that they would be agreed upon in the final decree as well.