Are you beginning to wonder if divorce is the best way to improve your life? Have you come to find that no matter what you do you’re unable to get on the same page with your spouse?
If you’re convinced that divorce is the right answer to your marital problems, it’s time to take a big step: You need to inform your spouse of your intentions.
On the surface, it sounds like a good idea to simply tell your spouse you want a divorce. You want nothing more than to get it out in the open. While some people take this approach, you don’t want to jump the gun. Instead, you need to plan out exactly what you’re going to do.
Here are several steps to take if you want to ask your spouse for a divorce:
- Set a time for the two of you to sit down alone. This may tip the person off that you’re going to ask for a divorce, but it’s still important. You don’t want to have this conversation if you’re in a hurry or other people are around.
- Make a list of things you want to discuss. This is a difficult conversation, so it’s possible that you’ll get off track at some point. Knowing what you want to say can help you push the conversation forward, all without missing any key points.
- Safety comes first. You shouldn’t ask your spouse for a divorce in person (and in private) if he or she has a nasty temper. Instead, do so over the phone or in a public place.
- Don’t leave any gray area. You need to make it clear that you want a divorce, and then stick to your plan regardless of what your spouse says to you.
The way you ask for a divorce can impact the process, so you want to be careful about the steps you take.
For example, if you’re calm and direct you’ll be in good position to push forward. However, if things take a turn for the worst, your spouse may get the idea of making things difficult throughout the divorce process.
Once you have this conversation, learn more about how to file for divorce, your legal rights and the many details (such as child support and custody) that could come up along the way.