3 Questions To Ask Yourself Before Filing For Divorce

Filing for divorce is a serious task. However, once the word “divorce” is said, it can never be unsaid. As a result, carefully consider whether or not you want to file for divorce in the first place.

To determine if you want to file for divorce, there are three questions you must ask yourself first. These questions can help you know where you are emotionally and rationally before making such a serious decision.

3 Questions To Ask Yourself Before Telling Your Spouse You Want A Divorce

Is The Damage Irreparable?

The most important question you should ask yourself before filing for divorce is if the damage is irreparable. Only if the damage is irreparable and you have no hope should you pursue divorce.

Of course, what is considered irreparable is entirely up to you. However, what is deemed to be repairable by one person is easily irreparable by another.

Think to yourself what are your limits and bounds within the marriage. You might want to stew over this question for several days since it is difficult to answer honestly.

Are You Ready To Tackle Divorce?

The second question you should ask yourself is if you are ready to tackle divorce. Divorce is a painful financial and emotional task to take on. If you are not prepared for either, you will often find the divorce proceeding overly tricky and next to impossible to come out in your favor.

Firstly, consider if you are emotionally ready to separate from your spouse. If you find that you are hesitant to tackle divorce for emotional reasons, ask yourself why.

■ If you think you’re not emotionally ready because you still have hope for the marriage, then go back to question one. The damage may not be irreparable, and you might still want to salvage the relationship.

■ If you do not think you are emotionally ready because you are scared to be alone or for sentimental reasons, be patient with yourself and develop self-confidence and skills for independent living. It is natural to be hesitant to separate from your partner, but that does not mean you aren’t ready for or serious about divorce.

Secondly, think about if you are financially ready to separate from your spouse. The divorce takes a whole lot of money. You have to be able to support yourself once you separate and pay lawyer fees.

Even if you don’t have the financial ability to live on your own yet, make sure you have a plan for your finances. For example, moving in with your parents, family, or a friend can take away some of the financial burdens and ensure you are financially ready to take on divorce.

Is A Personal Injury Lawyer Needed?

The third question to ask yourself is if a personal injury lawyer is needed. If your marital troubles are due to your partner suffering a severe or permanent injury, you can file a loss of consortium claim.

Opting for a personal injury lawyer may be a more ideal option to separating if the only reason you are considering divorce is due to the negligent accident caused by someone else. 

With a loss of consortium claim, you can file a personal injury suit that deals with different forms of pain you have had to deal with, such as mental anguish, loss of reputation, and even loss of companionship.

Tips To Keep In Mind

As you are answering these questions on your own, there are three tips you need to keep in mind.

Be Honest With Yourself

Make sure to be honest with yourself as you are answering these questions. If you are finding it difficult to be honest, there is likely a reason why. Some people find writing their true feelings easier than thinking it or saying it out loud. If you aren’t honest, these questions will not help much.

Take Time

Take as much time as you need to tackle this question. When we are first faced with such difficult questions as these, it can be difficult to be honest and discover what we truly need. Take as much time as needed to pull apart these questions and find out where you really stand.

Talk To Professionals

The last thing to keep in mind is to talk to professionals. Obviously, you will want to talk to a divorce attorney before filing for divorce.

If you are considering filing a personal injury suit, make sure you talk to a specialized attorney in consortium cases too. Don’t forget about therapists, doctors, or any other professional that may help you with the process.

Final Thoughts

Divorce is a difficult and emotional process. By making sure you are ready for it ahead of time, you make the process just a little bit easier on both you and your spouse. By asking yourself the three questions above, you can more confidently know if and why you want to pursue divorce.

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