No one other than you can answer the question, “Should I get a divorce?” The effects of a divorce will be felt for many years – longer if you have children with your spouse. While there may be many questions you need to ask yourself, the following questions are a good start:
Have you done everything you can to try to save your marriage?
Have you tried to save your marriage? This could mean anything from reading self-help books to attending counseling with (or without) your spouse. You owe it to yourself – and any children – to learn if anything can be done to save your marriage.
In order to get a divorce in Florida, the law requires that your marriage be irretrievably broken. This is a complicated way of saying “broken and cannot be fixed.” Very often this requires no more proof than saying, “my marriage is irretrievably broken.” But, the judges take this requirement seriously and want to know if you have tried everything to save your marriage.
Are you effectively dealing with the emotions that are associated with divorce?
A divorce can bring up intense emotions. Among these are hurt feelings, guilt, confusion, anger, and maybe relief. It’s important that you are at (or near) your best as you go through a divorce since many decisions will be made that could affect the rest of your life. If you are having trouble dealing with various emotions, you should seek the help of a professional counselor.
Have you researched how to get divorced?
Everyone knows that they can get divorced. But, do you know how to get divorced? Are you planning on handling the legal aspects of your case by yourself? Do you know a divorce lawyer? Do you know how much an uncontested case costs as compared to a contested case? Do you know how long a divorce will take? If you and your spouse cannot agree on the terms of a divorce, have you considered mediation prior to starting the divorce case in order to keep the costs down?
Are you ready to be single again?
Especially for those who end long marriages after getting married relatively young, transitioning to single life can be challenging. Do you have a budget? If you have children, are you ready to co-parent those children with your ex? Being since means more than the absence of your spouse. It brings a whole – often new – set of challenges.
Since you are the only one that can answer these questions, it is important to consider the answers before moving forward with a divorce.
