Wife has stated she can manage this amicably and we can agree on division of assets, but I feel she is in denial (e.g., strong desire to spend time together, sexual advances, etc.).

I already have an attorney lined up, but I have not signed the engagement letter or paid retainer.

Part of me wants to delay the engagement to allow us to physically separate (i.e., select apartment for wife, divide physical belongings, open separate bank account for wife, etc.). That would make writing up a separation agreement much more straight forward; assuming she will continue to play ball. We have no children, so the biggest pain will be asset division. She has expressed that she has no desire to seek out an attorney and that the burden is on me to file everything with or without an attorney for her to sign.

The other part of me feels like she is going to flip once reality fully settles in her mind. That I need to just steamroll through this as fast as possible with my attorney regardless of the noise of us living together with comingled assets.

Curious to hear if anyone has successfully executed on separation prior to the flying of paper.

If you feel I'm delusional, feel free to let me know.