It can sometimes be difficult to figure out how to talk to your spouse about getting a divorce. You may have come to this conclusion on your own, spending months thinking over how you want to proceed. You are sure the divorce is what you want, but that doesn’t make it easier to bring it up.
Additionally, the way that you do this can actually impact your case in some ways. It’s important to know what steps to take and how to go about talking to your spouse, and the following tips may help.
Find a low-stress time
The last thing you want to do is bring this up during an argument or during a stressful time. If your spouse has a lot of stress at work, for instance, or if there is stress from the upcoming holidays, it may be best to wait. Your spouse is going to emotionally react to the news and that reaction is more likely to be negative if they’re stressed, which can make your subsequent divorce case more contentious.
Consider your schedule
It’s also wise to remember that this conversation may take some time. Look at your schedule and find a time when you can talk for as long as necessary. This isn’t something that you want to rush. Don’t bring it up on a whim. It only hinders the conversation if you or your spouse are stressed about trying to get to some other appointment.
Do it when the children are not home
If you and your spouse are parents, you also want to have the initial conversations when the kids aren’t home. You eventually will need to inform them about the divorce, of course. But you don’t want to do that until you’re sure that it’s going to happen and you can give them some more answers together. Have the conversation together, make a decision and then have a family meeting to tell all of the children at once.
Moving forward with the divorce
Once you do decide to get divorced, take the time to look into all of the legal steps that are necessary. The more you know about the necessary steps, the smoother things will go and the more you can focus on your rights, your future and your children.
