Questions to Ask Yourself Before Divorce

Ask yourself some serious questions and answer them honestly. Is there still some love in the marriage, or are you just two people living together? Do you really want a divorce or are you just angry about something that could be fixed? Have you thought about what your life will be like after a divorce? Can you remember when you last enjoyed each other’s company? Do you dream or fantasize about divorce or life without your spouse? Has your spouse been unfaithful? Can you get past your spouse’s adultery even though studies show that people who cheat once in a marriage are likely to cheat again? Do you feel irritated with your spouse all the time? Are you ready to let go of the good as well as the bad in your marriage?

Your answers to questions like these will help you know whether you should turn thoughts about divorce into action.

Things You Should Do (Or Not Do) Before Divorce

Once you decide that divorce could be a real option for you, there are some other things you should (or should not) do before talking with a lawyer.

  • Talk to a counsellor. You may have no doubt at all about wanting a divorce, but talking to an objective third party will help you organize your thinking and will reduce the chances of having regrets in the future.
  • Talk with your spouse before serving papers on him or her. A surprised and angry spouse can make things very difficult. However, in case where spousal abuse is an issue, surprise and anger probably won’t make things any worse.
  • Take the time to figure out your financial situation if you don’t already have a good sense of where you stand. Start gathering records and listing assets.
  • Don’t move out of your home unless your spouse is abusive. If you move out and then start divorce proceedings, the legal process may become more complex.
  • Don’t tell your spouse about an affair until you are sure you want a divorce. Honesty is not always the best policy. Although adultery is not a crime in Texas, it can still affect the outcome of child custody, spousal support and property division.
  • Don’t get pregnant. Adding to the family will just complicate matters further if you divorce.

Once you have decided that you or your spouse really want to pursue divorce, your next step is to talk with a divorce lawyer or family law attorney. After talking with a lawyer and deciding you really want a divorce, you will start down a long and often-complicated path. Most divorcing couples are experiencing the legal system for the first time and often find the process overwhelming.

Educating yourself about the legal aspects of divorce is one of the best things you can do for yourself. The other thing you can do to make the divorce process less stressful is to have the right kind of legal representation. The Sisemore Law Firm, P.C. in Fort Worth can help guide you through the divorce process from the beginning.