If you are struggling in your marriage, you might be considering the prospect of divorce. However, you might be on the fence about it. After all, deciding to divorce is a major decision and one that should not be made without consideration for the consequences. How can you know if a divorce is right for your situation? You cannot look into the future to see what the outcome will be if you do choose to dissolve your marriage, but you can closely examine certain factors in your life to better decide on the best course of action.
Below is a list of some signs that can help you figure out what your next steps should be:
- You believe you would be better off alone: We have all reminisced over the past before, but if you also find yourself longing for the days when you were single, this could be a sign that your marriage is simply not working. It will be near impossible to work on fixing your marriage if you already think you would be happier if you were on your own again.
- Your needs are not being met: A marriage is a lot like a team and both spouses need to do their part to fulfill one another’s physical, emotional, and spiritual needs. Once those needs cease to be met, it might be time to end the marriage.
- You are only staying because of the kids: This is an incredibly common reason for why countless dysfunctional marriages carry on. However, children are smarter than you might think and can sense animosity. You should also keep in mind that kids tend to grow up to seek the types of relationships they were exposed to when they were younger, so ask yourself if you really want them to end up in an unhealthy and unhappy relationship.
- You tried everything and still cannot seem to make it work: Just because the situation is difficult does not mean you should call it quits, but if you and your spouse have already tried every reasonable option, including counseling, and still cannot seem to make the marriage work, then now might be the time to consider dissolving the marriage. Your hearts might have been in the right place, but sometimes a marriage cannot withstand certain issues and differences.
- Your marriage is the lesser of two evils: If you have been married for quite some time, you might be a little concerned about being single again. Perhaps you think you would have trouble finding someone new or believe your chances of having another romance are over. These are all valid fears, but they should not be the reason why you are staying in your marriage. If that is all your marriage is based on, you are in for some trouble.
- You are worried about what your friends and family will think: Divorce can seem a lot like failure and failures tend to be embarrassing to admit to. This is also a terrible reason to remain in a failed marriage. If nothing can bring you and your spouse together again, the best thing for both of you to do is acknowledge that you tried to make it work and move on. Your marriage should not revolve around what your friends and family think. The only thing you should be concerned about is your own happiness and the decision that would best support your needs and interests.
- You do not respect your spouse: In a marriage, mutual respect is crucial. Along with trust and understanding, it is the basis for any healthy marriage, so if you find yourself no longer respecting your spouse, this is a pretty powerful sign that you might need to pull the plug on the marriage.
Attorneys in Westchester County
If you are no longer able to make your marriage work and are in the process of filing for a divorce or have been served with divorce papers, you need to retain the skilled legal assistance of an experienced attorney. At Friedman & Friedman PLLC, our team of attorneys in Westchester County is dedicated to assisting clients throughout the divorce process while protecting their interests.
Get started on your case today and contact our law office at (914) 873-4410 to request a consultation with one of our knowledgeable attorneys.