There are many reasons a marital relationship can crumble. Maybe a couple married and they grew apart over time. OR perhaps a spouse is dealing with substance abuse or a mental condition. No matter the reason beyond an unstable marriage, one spouse may want to pull the trigger soon.
If you are confused or not sure about how feel, you are not alone. Many married people think about divorce for several years before they finally make a decision. What about you? What’s keeping you from filing for a divorce? Do you want to catch your spouse in a marital affair? Do you still think your current situation is not enough to finally pack your bags? You might be waiting for something like for your spouse to leave first or to take the last family vacation. But how about throwing the towel now? If you are still not sure about what to do, a Birmingham family law attorney may be able to help make a decision.
Assessing Your Situation
If you are wondering if it is time to take action now and file for divorce, here are questions you should answer:
- Are you or your children happy?
- Is divorce always on your mind?
- Are you still in love with your spouse?
- Are you still satisfied with what your marriage is bringing to your life?
- Has your spouse changed since your marriage? What about you?
- How do you define a happy marriage?
- What is it that you do not like about your spouse?
- Are there traits you want a new partner to possess?
- What will your life be like when you divorce?
- Do you consider your spouse a good person?
If your answers to these questions indicate that you got married for the wrong reasons, now may be the time to let go. Staying married just so you do not get divorced does not make sense. You have no reason to stay in an unhealthy marriage, particularly if it involves abuse. If you want to finally pull the trigger; however, you feel lost in the process of analyzing and evaluating your situation, a divorce attorney can help you get the ball rolling.
Tips to Finally Make a Decision
If cannot decide about divorce because you cannot analyze things properly, here are tips that can help you:
- Consult with a divorce lawyer. If you are like most people, you may be afraid of what you don’t know. Schedule a case evaluation with a divorce attorney. Once you explain your situation to them, they can walk you through the divorce process and what you can expect in your specific case.
- Collect financial documents. Before you talk to your spouse about divorce, collect your financial documents first and make copies of them. These documents include credit card statements, tax returns, life insurance policies, retirement account statements, mortgage documents, car loan statements, and others. Financial statements may disappear once you spill the beans to your spouse. So, it is best to collect such documents right away and ensure you have copies of them.
- Learn about the divorce laws in the state. Educate yourself about Alabama’s community property, debt division, child custody and support, and spousal support laws. This allows you to know your legal rights and responsibilities.
- Ask questions. For sure, you may not want to make a mistake or take the wrong step. Before you do or say anything that can affect your divorce case, make sure to have a list of questions. Ask anything and do not act until you get answers to those questions.
- Be open and honest with your lawyer. When you consult with your attorney, do not withhold information. No matter how confidential that information may be, your attorney needs to know about it. This way, they can represent you effectively.