3 tips for telling your spouse you would like to divorce

Do you think it’s time to talk to your spouse about a potential divorce? Maybe you’ve been considering it for a while, and recent events have made you realize that it’s necessary.

The way that you have this conversation can go a long way toward determining if the divorce is going to be contentious or not. As such, it’s important to think about how you talk to your spouse, and the following are a few important tips.

1. Consider the timing

It’s very important to have this conversation when you both have time to commit to it and really talk about it. For instance, you don’t want to bring up divorce in the middle of an argument. It also may not be wise to bring up divorce if you know there’s a pressing deadline, such as if your spouse has to leave for work in five minutes.

2. Consider their emotions

Even if you are firmly sure that you want to divorce, it can be helpful to be empathetic. Consider how this could impact your spouse. Are they going to be surprised? Be empathetic to them and be firm but kind with how you bring up the topic. If you bring it up aggressively or angrily, it just increases the odds that you’ll have a high-conflict divorce.

3. Consider your children

If the two of you are parents, it’s often best to find a time when the children are out of the house. For instance, perhaps tell your spouse that you want to talk to them while the kids are at school. This way, there are no distractions and you’re not worried about the children overhearing anything. The two of you can have an adult conversation and break the news to the kids later.

As you move through the divorce process, be sure that you understand exactly what legal rights and obligations you have.