Knowing When It’s Time for a Divorce
Questions.Answered
‘Till death do us part… or something else does.
Today, almost half of all first marriages end in divorce. Sometimes it’s within five years, and other times a divorce happens after 20 or more years of marriage.
Regardless, it’s helpful to know the signs that the end of a marriage is on the horizon. How do you know when it’s time to move on, or when it’s time to dig deeper and hang on for dear life?
Here are some signs that it may be time for a separation. If you are feeling like it’s time to move on, be sure to reach out to a family law attorney for the next steps.
There’s Physical Violence
It’s never OK for your partner to hit you. Period. Hard Stop. End of Story.
If there is physical violence in your relationship, it’s time to get out. Reach out to domestic violence organizations that can help you stay safe while you move out and exit the relationship. You can call 1-800-799-7233 to receive assistance Now.
Once you’re safe and away from the abuser, you’ll want to work with a family law attorney to dissolve the marriage without putting yourself in further danger. You have options to seek Domestic Violence Protective Orders, but your lawyer can tell you more about that, and explain your options.
There Are Other Types of Abuse
Just because someone doesn’t hit you doesn’t mean they aren’t abusing you. There are many types of abuse, including:
- Degrading comments
- Gaslighting
- Financial control
- Emotional manipulation
This is not an exhaustive list. Talk to a trusted friend, counselor, or a family law attorney to get an outside view of your relationship. Make sure the person you talk to isn’t in an unhealthy situations themselves, as it may skew their opinion.
One of You is Cheating
If your partner is cheating, it’s a clear sign they aren’t committed to the relationship and it’s time to move on. But the same is true if it’s you who is cheating.
Cheating on your partner means that you’ve lost interest in the relationship and you’re not willing to continue working on making things better. If you’re cheating, you should move on from your marriage so both of you can find happiness elsewhere.
The existence of an affair can have serious consequences on you, or your spouse’s, claim for Alimony. Regardless of who cheated on whom, it’s vitally important to discuss the issues with a family law attorney to protect yourself, and because the marriage is probably over.
Inability to Resolve Conflict
No matter how much you love each other, there will be plenty of times you have disagreements. If you aren’t able to resolve these issues, there will be a lot of buried wounds that can doom your marriage.
If both of you are willing, you can work on better conflict resolution strategies. However, sometimes it’s too late. Maybe fights seem to become bullying right away, or one of the two of you are unable to come out of your shell enough to share your real feelings.
If you can’t resolve differences then divorce is only a matter of time. Whether the fights are about money, raising kids, or how to fold underwear, damage will be done and the relationship will fracture.
Reach Out to a Family Law Attorney
If you have already reached out to a Divorce lawyer, or see yourself and your relationship in these descriptions of a failing marriage, it may be time to plan how to move forward. Not all divorces have to be ugly, drawn-out, terrible affairs.
Sometimes you can work with your spouse to find a mutually agreeable way to separate. But finalizing the separation in a way that protects your interests will likely require the help of a professional family law attorney.
If you’re ready to find out what’s next then contact us for a consultation today!