As nervous as you may be, if you come to realize that divorce is the best decision for you, there will come a time when you have to discuss it with your spouse, as much as you may be dreading this conversation.
Depending on your situation, your spouse may be receptive to everything you say. This is often the case if your spouse also feels that divorce would be in his or her best interest.
Conversely, if your spouse doesn’t see divorce coming, you may have your hands full attempting to explain your feelings and why you want to move forward in this direction.
The way you frame the divorce conversation will go a long way in determining how it plays out. Your goal is to approach it in the most efficient and productive manner possible, all with the idea that it will lead you toward long-term success.
Here are five tips to follow:
- Prepare yourself for everything: You know that asking for divorce is a big deal, so it’s possible you could forget something of importance. This is why you should prepare yourself for anything that could come to light.
- Stay safe: If safety is a concern, your best bet is to ask for a divorce over the phone or in a public place. This isn’t ideal, as it’s a personal conversation, but you shouldn’t risk your safety for anything.
- Stick with your plan: Your spouse may say that he or she wants to work things out. Your wife of husband may attempt to get you to change your mind. If you have thought about everything and are not willing to compromise on your stance, stick with your plan.
- Leave others out of the conversation: This is a personal conversation, so you shouldn’t include your children, other family members or friends.
- Don’t discuss details: You know that divorce is full of many details, such as who will keep the house, where your children will live in the future and if one person will pay the other child support and/or alimony. You have to work through these details at some point, but doing so during the initial conversation is a mistake.
Asking for a divorce is never easy, but when you frame the conversation in the appropriate manner you will find yourself on the right track. Once you have this in the past, you can file the necessary paperwork, learn more about the process and devise a strategy to protect your legal rights.
