diff --git a/changelog.d/spouse-ignores-dependent-separation.fixed.md b/changelog.d/spouse-ignores-dependent-separation.fixed.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..a63a6b5e907
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelog.d/spouse-ignores-dependent-separation.fixed.md
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+A separated dependent or other member no longer stops the inferred tax unit spouse; only the head's or the spouse's own separation does (26 U.S.C. 7703).
diff --git a/policyengine_us/tests/core/test_tax_unit_spouse_separation_invariants.py b/policyengine_us/tests/core/test_tax_unit_spouse_separation_invariants.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..ae448f7119d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/policyengine_us/tests/core/test_tax_unit_spouse_separation_invariants.py
@@ -0,0 +1,187 @@
+"""Invariants for the inferred tax unit spouse when members are separated.
+
+Separation under 26 U.S.C. 7703 concerns the filer's own marriage, so only
+the head's or the would-be spouse's `is_separated` can leave a tax unit
+without a spouse. The would-be spouse is the oldest head-or-spouse candidate
+other than the head; candidates are adults not input as dependents (every
+adult when all are). Core's `get_rank` puts equal ages in member order.
+
+Hypothesis draws batches of tax units of one to five people, with tied ages,
+children, separated members and, in turn, no role inputs, input dependent
+flags, or an input head. A seeded population of 300 units adds breadth. Each
+batch runs as one vectorized simulation that also holds a twin of every unit
+in which every member other than the head and the would-be spouse has
+`is_separated` flipped. For every tax unit:
+
+1. Structure: at most one spouse, who is neither the head nor a child.
+2. Differential: head and spouse equal a pure-Python statement of the rule.
+3. Separation of anyone but the head and the would-be spouse never changes
+   the spouse: each unit and its twin get the same spouse.
+"""
+
+import numpy as np
+import pytest
+from hypothesis import HealthCheck, given, settings
+from hypothesis import strategies as st
+
+from policyengine_us import Simulation
+
+YEAR = 2024
+ADULT_AGE = 18
+AGES = [6, 17, 18, 25, 30, 38, 40, 75]
+MODES = ["no_roles", "dependents", "head"]
+
+
+@st.composite
+def tax_units(draw):
+    size = draw(st.integers(1, 5))
+    members = [
+        {
+            "age": draw(st.sampled_from(AGES)),
+            "separated": draw(st.booleans()),
+            "dependent": draw(st.booleans()),
+        }
+        for _ in range(size)
+    ]
+    return {"members": members, "head": draw(st.integers(0, size - 1))}
+
+
+def _seeded_units(n=300, seed=20261006):
+    rng = np.random.default_rng(seed)
+    units = []
+    for _ in range(n):
+        size = int(rng.integers(1, 6))
+        members = [
+            {
+                "age": int(rng.choice(AGES)),
+                "separated": bool(rng.random() < 0.3),
+                "dependent": bool(rng.random() < 0.4),
+            }
+            for _ in range(size)
+        ]
+        units.append({"members": members, "head": int(rng.integers(0, size))})
+    return units
+
+
+def _first_oldest(ages, eligible):
+    """Index of the oldest eligible member, the earlier one on a tie."""
+    order = [i for i in range(len(ages)) if eligible[i]]
+    return min(order, key=lambda i: (-ages[i], i)) if order else None
+
+
+def _reference(unit, mode):
+    """(head index, spouse index) under the rule in the module docstring."""
+    members = unit["members"]
+    ages = [m["age"] for m in members]
+    adult = [age >= ADULT_AGE for age in ages]
+    candidate = adult
+    if mode != "no_roles":
+        non_dependent = [a and not m["dependent"] for a, m in zip(adult, members)]
+        if any(non_dependent):
+            candidate = non_dependent
+    if mode == "head":
+        head = unit["head"]
+    else:
+        head = _first_oldest(ages, candidate)
+    would_be = _first_oldest(ages, [c and i != head for i, c in enumerate(candidate)])
+    separated = [m["separated"] for m in members]
+    if would_be is None or (head is not None and separated[head]):
+        return head, None
+    return head, None if separated[would_be] else would_be
+
+
+def _twin(unit, mode):
+    """The unit with every member but the head and would-be spouse's
+    separation flipped."""
+    members = unit["members"]
+    head, _ = _reference(unit, mode)
+    keep = {head}
+    # The would-be spouse is the spouse the rule finds when nobody is separated.
+    calm = {**unit, "members": [{**m, "separated": False} for m in members]}
+    keep.add(_reference(calm, mode)[1])
+    flipped = [
+        m if i in keep else {**m, "separated": not m["separated"]}
+        for i, m in enumerate(members)
+    ]
+    return {**unit, "members": flipped}
+
+
+def _situation(units, mode):
+    people, tax_unit_groups, households, marital_units = {}, {}, {}, {}
+    for u, unit in enumerate(units):
+        names = []
+        for i, member in enumerate(unit["members"]):
+            name = f"p{u}_{i}"
+            person = {
+                "age": {YEAR: member["age"]},
+                "is_separated": {YEAR: member["separated"]},
+            }
+            if mode in ("dependents", "head"):
+                person["is_tax_unit_dependent"] = {YEAR: member["dependent"]}
+            if mode == "head":
+                person["is_tax_unit_head"] = {YEAR: i == unit["head"]}
+            people[name] = person
+            names.append(name)
+            marital_units[f"m{u}_{i}"] = {"members": [name]}
+        tax_unit_groups[f"t{u}"] = {"members": names}
+        households[f"h{u}"] = {"members": names, "state_code": {YEAR: "TX"}}
+    return {
+        "people": people,
+        "tax_units": tax_unit_groups,
+        "households": households,
+        "marital_units": marital_units,
+    }
+
+
+def _check(units, mode):
+    batch = units + [_twin(unit, mode) for unit in units]
+    sim = Simulation(situation=_situation(batch, mode))
+    head = np.asarray(sim.calculate("is_tax_unit_head", YEAR), dtype=bool)
+    spouse = np.asarray(sim.calculate("is_tax_unit_spouse", YEAR), dtype=bool)
+    start = 0
+    spouses = []
+    for u, unit in enumerate(batch):
+        size = len(unit["members"])
+        unit_head = head[start : start + size]
+        unit_spouse = spouse[start : start + size]
+        ages = [m["age"] for m in unit["members"]]
+        start += size
+
+        # 1. Structure.
+        assert unit_spouse.sum() <= 1, (mode, unit)
+        assert not (unit_spouse & unit_head).any(), (mode, unit)
+        assert all(age >= ADULT_AGE for age, s in zip(ages, unit_spouse) if s)
+
+        # 2. Differential against the reference rule.
+        expected_head, expected_spouse = _reference(unit, mode)
+        assert list(np.flatnonzero(unit_head)) == (
+            [] if expected_head is None else [expected_head]
+        ), (mode, unit, unit_head)
+        assert list(np.flatnonzero(unit_spouse)) == (
+            [] if expected_spouse is None else [expected_spouse]
+        ), (mode, unit, unit_spouse)
+        spouses.append(list(np.flatnonzero(unit_spouse)))
+
+    # 3. Each unit and its twin share a spouse.
+    assert spouses[: len(units)] == spouses[len(units) :]
+
+
+# A batch's cost is mostly per-variable overhead, so each example is a large
+# batch and there are few examples.
+SETTINGS = dict(
+    max_examples=10,
+    deadline=None,
+    derandomize=True,
+    suppress_health_check=[HealthCheck.too_slow, HealthCheck.data_too_large],
+)
+
+
+@settings(**SETTINGS)
+@given(st.sampled_from(MODES), st.lists(tax_units(), min_size=5, max_size=40))
+def test_tax_unit_spouse_separation_invariants(mode, units):
+    _check(units, mode)
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("mode", MODES)
+def test_seeded_population(mode):
+    _check(_seeded_units(), mode)
diff --git a/policyengine_us/tests/policy/baseline/household/demographic/tax_unit/filing_status.yaml b/policyengine_us/tests/policy/baseline/household/demographic/tax_unit/filing_status.yaml
index f993c6326da..01a49bcc019 100644
--- a/policyengine_us/tests/policy/baseline/household/demographic/tax_unit/filing_status.yaml
+++ b/policyengine_us/tests/policy/baseline/household/demographic/tax_unit/filing_status.yaml
@@ -251,3 +251,43 @@
   output:
     # Each parent has 5,100 of taxable benefits, not below 4,400.
     filing_status: SINGLE
+
+- name: A separated adult dependent does not stop a married couple filing jointly.
+  period: 2024
+  input:
+    people:
+      head:
+        age: 40
+        is_tax_unit_dependent: false
+        employment_income: 50_000
+      spouse:
+        age: 38
+        is_tax_unit_dependent: false
+        employment_income: 30_000
+      dependent:
+        age: 18
+        is_tax_unit_dependent: true
+        is_separated: true
+    marital_units:
+      couple_marital_unit:
+        members: [head, spouse]
+      dependent_marital_unit:
+        members: [dependent]
+    tax_units:
+      tax_unit:
+        members: [head, spouse, dependent]
+    households:
+      household:
+        members: [head, spouse, dependent]
+        state_code: TX
+  output:
+    filing_status: JOINT
+    tax_unit_married: true
+    # Rev. Proc. 2023-34: 2024 joint standard deduction is 29,200.
+    standard_deduction: 29_200
+    # Both spouses' wages, 50,000 + 30,000, less 29,200.
+    taxable_income: 50_800
+    # 2024 joint brackets: 10% of 23,200 plus 12% of (50,800 - 23,200).
+    income_tax_before_credits: 5_632
+    # The 18-year-old dependent qualifies for the 500 credit for other dependents.
+    income_tax: 5_132
diff --git a/policyengine_us/tests/policy/baseline/household/demographic/tax_unit/is_tax_unit_spouse.yaml b/policyengine_us/tests/policy/baseline/household/demographic/tax_unit/is_tax_unit_spouse.yaml
index 2bc08f8d0ee..303fba80b91 100644
--- a/policyengine_us/tests/policy/baseline/household/demographic/tax_unit/is_tax_unit_spouse.yaml
+++ b/policyengine_us/tests/policy/baseline/household/demographic/tax_unit/is_tax_unit_spouse.yaml
@@ -103,3 +103,185 @@
     is_tax_unit_head: [true, false, false, false]
     is_tax_unit_spouse: [false, true, false, false]
     tax_unit_dependents: 2
+
+- name: A separated adult dependent does not remove the filer's spouse.
+  period: 2024
+  input:
+    people:
+      head:
+        age: 40
+        is_tax_unit_dependent: false
+      spouse:
+        age: 38
+        is_tax_unit_dependent: false
+      dependent:
+        age: 18
+        is_tax_unit_dependent: true
+        is_separated: true
+    tax_units:
+      tax_unit:
+        members: [head, spouse, dependent]
+  output:
+    is_tax_unit_head: [true, false, false]
+    is_tax_unit_spouse: [false, true, false]
+    tax_unit_married: true
+
+- name: A separated elderly dependent older than the couple does not remove the spouse.
+  period: 2024
+  input:
+    people:
+      head:
+        age: 40
+      spouse:
+        age: 38
+      parent:
+        age: 75
+        is_tax_unit_dependent: true
+        is_separated: true
+    tax_units:
+      tax_unit:
+        members: [head, spouse, parent]
+  output:
+    is_tax_unit_spouse: [false, true, false]
+
+- name: A separated younger adult who is neither head nor spouse does not remove the spouse.
+  period: 2024
+  input:
+    people:
+      head:
+        age: 40
+      spouse:
+        age: 38
+      other_adult:
+        age: 30
+        is_separated: true
+    tax_units:
+      tax_unit:
+        members: [head, spouse, other_adult]
+  output:
+    is_tax_unit_spouse: [false, true, false]
+
+- name: A separated head has no spouse in the tax unit.
+  period: 2024
+  input:
+    people:
+      head:
+        age: 40
+        is_separated: true
+      other_adult:
+        age: 38
+    tax_units:
+      tax_unit:
+        members: [head, other_adult]
+  output:
+    is_tax_unit_head: [true, false]
+    is_tax_unit_spouse: [false, false]
+    tax_unit_married: false
+
+# Which co-resident adult is the filer's spouse is an age-order inference, not a
+# rule of law. When the would-be spouse is separated, no younger adult is
+# promoted into the role, as before separation was limited to head and spouse.
+- name: A separated second-oldest adult is not the spouse, and no younger adult takes the role.
+  period: 2024
+  input:
+    people:
+      head:
+        age: 40
+      separated_adult:
+        age: 38
+        is_separated: true
+      younger_adult:
+        age: 30
+    tax_units:
+      tax_unit:
+        members: [head, separated_adult, younger_adult]
+  output:
+    is_tax_unit_spouse: [false, false, false]
+    tax_unit_married: false
+
+- name: Separation only affects the spouse in its own tax unit.
+  period: 2024
+  input:
+    people:
+      head_a:
+        age: 40
+      spouse_a:
+        age: 38
+      dependent_a:
+        age: 20
+        is_tax_unit_dependent: true
+        is_separated: true
+      head_b:
+        age: 50
+        is_separated: true
+      adult_b:
+        age: 45
+    tax_units:
+      tax_unit_a:
+        members: [head_a, spouse_a, dependent_a]
+      tax_unit_b:
+        members: [head_b, adult_b]
+    households:
+      household:
+        members: [head_a, spouse_a, dependent_a, head_b, adult_b]
+  output:
+    is_tax_unit_head: [true, false, false, true, false]
+    is_tax_unit_spouse: [false, true, false, false, false]
+    tax_unit_married: [true, false]
+
+- name: A younger separated adult does not stop the next-oldest adult being the spouse.
+  period: 2024
+  input:
+    people:
+      head:
+        age: 40
+      separated_adult:
+        age: 25
+        is_separated: true
+      other_adult:
+        age: 30
+    tax_units:
+      tax_unit:
+        members: [head, separated_adult, other_adult]
+  output:
+    is_tax_unit_spouse: [false, false, true]
+
+- name: A separated dependent does not remove the spouse when the head is an input.
+  period: 2024
+  input:
+    people:
+      head:
+        age: 40
+        is_tax_unit_head: true
+      spouse:
+        age: 38
+      dependent:
+        age: 19
+        is_tax_unit_dependent: true
+        is_separated: true
+    tax_units:
+      tax_unit:
+        members: [head, spouse, dependent]
+  output:
+    is_tax_unit_spouse: [false, true, false]
+
+- name: With every adult input as a dependent, a third adult's separation leaves the spouse.
+  period: 2024
+  input:
+    people:
+      oldest:
+        age: 40
+        is_tax_unit_dependent: true
+      second:
+        age: 38
+        is_tax_unit_dependent: true
+      third:
+        age: 20
+        is_tax_unit_dependent: true
+        is_separated: true
+    tax_units:
+      tax_unit:
+        members: [oldest, second, third]
+  output:
+    is_tax_unit_head: [true, false, false]
+    is_tax_unit_spouse: [false, true, false]
diff --git a/policyengine_us/variables/household/demographic/tax_unit/is_tax_unit_spouse.py b/policyengine_us/variables/household/demographic/tax_unit/is_tax_unit_spouse.py
index 24ccbf62c4c..c3b24a61987 100644
--- a/policyengine_us/variables/household/demographic/tax_unit/is_tax_unit_spouse.py
+++ b/policyengine_us/variables/household/demographic/tax_unit/is_tax_unit_spouse.py
@@ -12,10 +12,14 @@ class is_tax_unit_spouse(Variable):
 
     def formula(person, period, parameters):
         # Only non-head adults can be spouses, skipping input dependents.
-        is_separated = person.tax_unit.any(person("is_separated", period))
         candidate = head_or_spouse_candidates(person, period)
         head = person("is_tax_unit_head", period)
-        eligible = candidate & ~head & ~is_separated
         tax_unit = person.tax_unit
         age = person("age", period)
-        return person.get_rank(tax_unit, -age, eligible) == 0
+        spouse = person.get_rank(tax_unit, -age, candidate & ~head) == 0
+        # Separation under 26 U.S.C. 7703 concerns the filer's own marriage, so
+        # only the head's or this spouse's separation means there is no spouse.
+        # A dependent's or other member's separation does not.
+        separated = person("is_separated", period)
+        head_or_spouse_separated = tax_unit.any((head | spouse) & separated)
+        return spouse & ~head_or_spouse_separated