Asking for a divorce is one of the more difficult things you’ll ever do. You hope you never have to do this, but there’s no way of knowing what the future holds.
If you find yourself in this position, preparation is the name of the game. Here are five tips you can follow when asking for a divorce:
- Prepare for everything: You don’t know what will happen, so you need to prepare for everything. What will you do if your spouse starts to cry? What will you do if they become violent? You need to think through every possible circumstance before having this conversation.
- Know what you want to say: Asking for a divorce is not as simple as blurting out your intentions and hoping your spouse is okay with it. You should have an idea of what you want to say and how you want to get your point across.
- Don’t change your mind: If you’ve thought things through and know that divorce is the best solution to your marital problems, don’t let your spouse talk you out of it. It’s okay to consider all your options, but once you know divorce is the answer, don’t change your mind.
- Choose the right time and place: It’s best to choose a quiet place without distractions. However, if you’re concerned about your safety, opt to discuss your divorce in a public setting, such as a restaurant.
- Don’t talk about what happens next: Once you ask for a divorce and the both of you are on the same page, you can exit the conversation with the idea that you’ll work through the finer details in the future. Now is not the time to discuss property division, child support, child custody and alimony. Even if the other person wants to do so, it’s best left for mediation.
It’s never easy to ask for a divorce, even if the other person sees it coming, but these tips can put you in a better spot.
Shortly after this conversation, you can turn your attention to the divorce process and your legal rights. You’ll want to collect all the information you need to make sound decisions, as any mistakes during your divorce can cause you harm now and in the future.
