Prepare for the act of asking for a divorce

Once you personally decide that you want to divorce your spouse, the next step is sharing your feelings with them. Even if you’re ready to get your feelings into the open, it’s easier said than done.

Since you want this conversation to go as smoothly as possible, here are some steps you can take to prepare yourself:

• Write down what you want to say: You don’t have to go into great detail or attempt to script the entire conversation. A few talking points are more than enough. This is what you need to guide the conversation and keep yourself on track.
• Get in the right frame of mind: For example, it’s critical that you’re ready to hold your ground. Your spouse may ask you to reconsider or attempt to talk you out of filing for divorce. When you’re in the right frame of mind, you won’t be talked out of taking action.
• Protect yourself: Think about what could go wrong after asking your spouse for a divorce. If you’re concerned that your spouse could become violent or verbally abusive, it’s best to have this conversation in a public place or over the phone. It’s not ideal, but your safety and well-being is your top priority.

When you take these steps, you can better prepare for the act of asking for a divorce. This doesn’t mean it’ll be quick and simple, but at least you have an idea of how you want to approach the subject.

Once you share your feelings, you can then turn all your attention to the details of the divorce process.