If you have been considering a divorce for some time, you might reach a point where you finally decide to do it. The next step will be to tell your spouse, yet this is not always that easy. Many people put it off for a long time because they do not know how to go about it. The following tips can help:
1. Be sure it’s what you want
Be sure this is how you wish to proceed before telling your spouse you want to divorce them. Of course, if you are unsure, you may want to raise the subject to gauge their opinion, but just remember that doing so will affect your relationship.
2. Keep it short to start with
If you are telling them you are divorcing them, that is the key message to get across. Avoid any language that could be taken as suggesting there is still a chance for them to convince you to change your mind. Also, try and avoid getting too deep into the reasons right now as that could result in a fight if they think you are blaming them for everything. There is time to talk more about what went wrong later, but for now, the key message they need to hear is that it is over.
3. Prioritize your safety
If you fear your spouse may become violent when you tell them the news, it may be better to do so from elsewhere, or with others who can step in to protect you standing close by. Also avoid times when the news could be a dangerous distraction, such as when driving.
Those are just some of the ways you can increase the chance your announcement goes smoothly. Learning more about how divorce works can also help you prepare better.
