How do you tell your spouse you want a divorce?

Starting conflict-ridden conversations is never easy, but divorce news is one of the hardest to deliver. There is no perfect way to tell your spouse how you feel. However, these relationship and divorce experts have gone through this many times with couples and have some thoughtful ways to approach this difficult conversation.

The 4 Ds of Divorce: Delicately, Deliberately, Delivery, and Dignity

There is no good way to drop the “D” word on your spouse, especially when they may not see it coming. With that said, there are a few other “D” words that come to mind when thinking about how to tell your spouse you want a divorce.

The first one is delicately. Try to put yourself in their shoes and understand that you’ve had time to sit with this decision, but they have not. Whether they saw it coming or refused to acknowledge all the flashing signs you were putting up, there is going to be emotion, anger, and hurt after that initial conversation. It does not do any good to use that conversation as an opportunity to tell your spouse the laundry list of reasons you want out.

The next “D” word is deliberately. It’s not fair to anyone involved (you, your spouse, or your kids) to create false hope if none exists. If you have made the difficult decision to go forward with a divorce, it is only right that your spouse does not leave the conversation thinking they still have a shot [at making] it work. This part is hard because, of course, nobody goes into a marriage expecting it to fail, but it is only right that you give your spouse the opportunity to process what is happening and start looking forward.

Next is all about delivery. You know your spouse better than anyone else, even when you do not particularly like them. Think about where, when, and how to approach your spouse. If your spouse is not a morning person, don’t wait by the side of the bed when they wake up and drop a bomb. Consider having the conversation on neutral ground so that neither of you feels territorial or that you don’t have anywhere to retreat to after this huge conversation.

The last “D” word that comes to mind is dignity. While it may be hard to recall, you married this person for a reason and have shared life moments together (good and bad). Marriage is hard, and there are all kinds of reasons that they do not work, but it typically is a two-way street.

Whether you like it or not, you will be tied to this person in some way for some period of time, so approaching the initial conversation with dignity matters. The way you tell your spouse you want a divorce can set the stage for how amicable (or not) your divorce can be. The topic of divorce is never easy, but thinking about these other “D” words can help ease the stress of that first discussion.

4 Tips for Telling Your Spouse You Want a Divorce

Make up your mind first.
Before leaping, ensure that you have a dialogue with your spouse. Check on them, know their views about your relationship, and then take the final decision.

Be empathetic toward them.
Your spouse might go into a state of shock after hearing your decision. Stay calm, and don’t let your anger peep! Your spouse might throw all their emotions; allow them.

Choose an appropriate time and place.
One should make such a decision in a sound environment. If your spouse is traveling or stuck in a business meeting, [wait until they are home.]

Do not delay the process.
After spending years together, it becomes difficult to let go of a person. But you have to stay firm on your decision and set boundaries. There will be times you might get emotional with those recurring happy memories. However, if you have made up your mind, do not delay the decision.

3 Options For Discussing Divorce

Deciding to proceed with a divorce is a daunting decision as the end of one’s marriage will often have everlasting effects on each party both financially and emotionally. This decision is often even more difficult to make when children are involved. Once you have made that decision, the next step – telling your spouse – can be challenging. Do not fret. There are several options:

1. Through Marriage Counseling – If you are involved with a marriage counselor, a counseling session may be a safe opportunity to confront your spouse with your plans to proceed with the divorce.

2. Through Your Attorney – It is not uncommon that one party first learns that [their] spouse intends to proceed with a divorce from a seemingly friendly “hello” letter from an attorney. This tells your spouse that you mean business and are ready to proceed.

3. Directly to your spouse – Often it is best to pull off the proverbial band-aid yourself.

Whatever path you decide to take, it is always best to lead with an offer to work cooperatively towards a resolution. Remind your spouse that while your marriage did not work, becoming contentious now when the divorce is inevitable will only lead to higher financial and emotional costs for both of you.

This conciliatory approach is particularly important when children are involved, as both parties must recognize that the divorce is just an end to one chapter of their lives together. Divorced couples with children will remain in each other’s lives forever.