While it is likely that both Florida spouses can be aware that they are in an unhappy marriage, it is not always clear to both spouses that divorce is inevitable. When one spouse reaches the decision to end the marriage, there is one important task to complete before moving on to custody discussions, property division and other legal particulars. That task is for one spouse to tell the other that he or she wants a divorce.
No matter how difficult a marriage has been, agreeing to divorce is seldom easy. Marriage experts advice spouses seeking a divorce to approach the conversation with gentle resolution. It is important to have an uninterrupted time and peaceful place to broach the subject. There is no need for a long explanation or a review of past hurts, only a clear statement of one’s intentions to divorce and move on.
There is often no predicting how a spouse will react to the news. He or she may display anger, beg for reconsideration or accept the news with silence. There is also the potential that the spouse will ask for a trial separation. Advisors suggest the spouse seeking a divorce be prepared with simple responses to any question or challenge, including a refusal to complicate the relationship with a prolonged separation.
It is not recommended that one seeking a divorce in Florida bring legal matters such as property division into the initial conversation. However, those issues will become critical soon after the news has been broken. Having legal representation as early as possible in the divorce process will ensure one’s rights and best interests are protected.