You’ve been thinking about it a long time and have finally come to the conclusion that you want to ask your spouse for a divorce. Maybe they know it’s coming. Maybe it’s a surprise. Regardless, bringing your true feelings to light is sure to shake things up in your life.
There are several questions you should first answer before you tell your spouse you want a divorce. Here are five of the most important:
- Are you 100% sure that it’s the right decision? If you have any doubt, it’s often best to discuss your concerns with your spouse. This may lead you to find that you can work together to strengthen your marriage.
- Have you considered the impact it will have on your children? If you have children with your spouse, your divorce will affect them in a variety of ways. For example, they’ll no longer live with the both of you, but will instead reside with the parent who has physical custody.
- What will divorce do to your finances? Money isn’t a good reason to stay together, but that doesn’t mean you should ignore the impact of divorce on your financial circumstances. For instance, if you’re a stay-at-home parent, you probably need to get a job to support yourself.
- How will you tell your family, friends and co-workers? This shouldn’t be a major concern, but it’s likely to go through your mind. Take the time to think about this, as you’ll eventually find yourself having to talk about your divorce with the people in your life.
- What steps can you take to protect your mental well-being? Divorce has the potential to take an emotional toll on you. There’s no way to avoid this, but there are steps you can take to protect your mental health and create a better life for yourself in the future.
Asking your spouse for a divorce is one of the most difficult things you’ll ever do. However, if you come to find that it’s the best thing for you and your future, don’t wait to share your feelings and tackle the process with the idea of protecting your legal rights.
