A "contract signed between two people and made to be legally binding" sounds like a legal separation agreement. I don't see the difference here.
Legally--in terms of grounds for a divorce--if you were wanting to date, then a legal seperation provides legal cover from being sued on the grounds of adultry?
That's the only distinction. Not that I would try to make the divorce painful emotionally by going down that path if it were me and it comes to that.
Seriously, get all you can in this agreement--agree to it, but keep as much as possible, see if you can get primary custody too Think about YOU while you agree with her about her wanting to leave.
M-47,W-40,No kids D-filed 5/27/2010 Piecing - 10/21/2010 -=Soon to be banned=-