It takes two people to get married, but it only takes one to ask for a divorce and end that marriage. You cannot deny your spouse’s desire for a divorce, no matter what you want personally.
As such, it’s best not to fight the process, but to take the time to prepare. Gather documents. Consider your legal options. Think about what results you might want from your divorce. The more time you have to do this before you get to court, the better.
So how do you know that divorce is coming?
To give you the best chance to plan for your divorce, you need to see it coming in advance. Here are a few red flags you may want to watch out for, as they can indicate that your spouse is thinking about ending the relationship:
- Your spouse doesn’t spend as much time with you and seems more interested in hanging out with their friends, staying late at the office, or otherwise avoiding one-on-one time.
- Your relationship is no longer physical and that spark just is not there. There’s a general lack of intimacy with no physical cause (like ill health).
- Your spouse starts to act a bit more secretively around the phone, computer, etc. This could be because he or she is already researching divorce.
- You start disagreeing more often than you used to, especially about little things.
- If you try to address any issues with your spouse, they appear apathetic. They are not worried about fixing those issues or solving the problems because they’re already sure the marriage is essentially over.
Have you started seeing any of these warning signs? If so, it may be time to start investigating your rights during a divorce. Knowing more about how a divorce works and what to expect in your specific situation is one of the best ways to reduce your anxiety about the future. An attorney can help you learn more.