Separation Agreement Attorney in Burleson

Protecting Your Financial Future While Living Apart in Johnson County

Texas doesn’t recognize legal separation as a formal marital status. You’re either married, divorced, or widowed under state law. What many Burleson residents searching for legal separation actually need is a separation agreement: a private contract between spouses who choose to live apart while remaining legally married. Attorney Jeff Cochran has handled hundreds of family law matters since joining our firm in 1999, including complex property division and high-net-worth cases. That depth of experience matters when you’re negotiating terms that can affect your financial life for years.

At Coontz Cochran, we’ve served Burleson and Johnson County families since 1990. A free initial consultation is available to discuss your situation and what a separation agreement can accomplish for you.

Speak with a separation agreement lawyer in Burleson before making financial decisions while living apart. Call (888) 858-0536 to schedule your free consultation.

What a Texas Separation Agreement Covers

Texas is a community property state. Income earned, assets acquired, and debts taken on during the marriage are generally considered jointly owned by both spouses, and that rule doesn’t pause when you move into separate households. Without a written agreement, a credit card your spouse opens after you separate can still be treated as a shared marital debt in a later divorce.

A separation agreement changes that by contractually designating post-separation income, property, and debt as each spouse’s separate property. A well-drafted agreement can address the following:

Property & Debt Allocation
Defines which spouse is responsible for specific debts incurred after separation and clarifies ownership of property purchased during that period, limiting exposure under community property rules.

Spousal Maintenance
Texas courts rarely award maintenance, and eligibility depends partly on how long the marriage lasted. Couples can use a separation agreement to define voluntary support terms rather than leaving those decisions to a judge later.

Child Custody & Support
Provisions for custody arrangements and child support can be included. A court will review these terms and can enforce them if they meet the best-interest-of-the-child standard, so careful drafting matters from the start.

The agreement doesn’t dissolve the marriage. Both spouses remain legally married and can’t remarry unless they pursue a divorce.

Why Burleson Couples Choose Separation Instead of Immediate Divorce

The reasons vary. Some couples want space to work through problems without permanently ending the marriage. Others need time to reach the 10-year marriage threshold that affects spousal maintenance eligibility under Texas law. Religious values lead some families to avoid divorce entirely. And some spouses remain married so a dependent partner can stay on an employer-sponsored health insurance plan, though whether that coverage continues depends on the specific plan.

Even when a separation is entirely amicable, one spouse’s financial decisions can legally bind the other under Texas community property rules. A separation agreement downloaded from the internet frequently contains provisions that won’t hold up or that inadvertently waive rights you didn’t intend to give up. An attorney-drafted agreement is built around your specific circumstances and the requirements Texas courts actually apply.

Johnson County Family Law from a Firm with Deep Burleson Roots

Family law petitions for Burleson residents are filed with the Johnson County Courthouse in Cleburne. Our attorneys know local court procedures and the standards Johnson County judges apply, which shapes how we draft and negotiate agreements intended to hold up if a dispute reaches the courthouse.

Jeff Cochran joined our firm in 1999 after practicing at Hill Gilstrap in Arlington. His focused family law practice spans hundreds of matters, including high-net-worth divorces, contested custody cases, and complex property characterization disputes. He earned his law degree from Texas Tech University and is fluent in Spanish, which allows him to serve clients more fully across our community. Greg Coontz grew up here, attended Burleson High School, and has practiced in this community for more than 30 years.

Our firm has been recognized in Texas Super Lawyers®, which selects the top 5 percent of attorneys in the state, and holds an AV® rating from Martindale-Hubbell®, the highest peer-review rating for legal ability and ethical standards. Clients consistently tell us that we keep them informed and make complicated legal processes understandable. When you’re navigating a separation, that kind of clarity is worth a lot.

Schedule a Free Consultation with a Burleson Separation Agreement Attorney

If you’re considering living apart from your spouse and want to protect your financial interests, a separation agreement may be the right step. We offer a free initial consultation to review your situation, explain your options under Texas law, and outline what a separation agreement can realistically accomplish for you.

Coontz Cochran serves clients throughout Burleson, Johnson County, and Mansfield. Call (888) 858-0536 to schedule your consultation today.