Chances are, when you got married, you and your husband were both equally excited to start your new life together. Unfortunately, when it comes to ending a marriage, the situation isn’t always so balanced.
Many women call us and say, “I want a divorce but my husband doesn’t. What can I do? Can you tell me how do I leave my husband?”
If your husband doesn’t want a divorce, it can be incredibly frustrating for a wife.
But let’s get one thing straight right off the top…
If one spouse wants a divorce, both spouses are getting a divorce.
You don’t need your husband’s permission to divorce them. But how you proceed – and how difficult you make it on yourself and your children, is up to both of you.
You see, the way your divorce kicks-off will set the tone for the rest of how the divorce process unfolds as well as the future of your relationship as co-parents.
I Want a Divorce But My Husband Doesn’t. Now What?
You are well within your rights to file for divorce with the courts and serve your husband with divorce papers. That’s certainly one way to get things moving along.
But I’m guessing you’re smart enough to recognize that going in that direction may not be your best bet if you don’t want things to turn ugly. Backing your reluctant spouse into a corner can set off a firestorm from which neither of you nor your children or family will ever recover.
So what can you do if you don’t want to burn things to the ground, but simply feel you can’t stay stuck in limbo any longer?
Before you resort to paying a divorce attorney to light a proverbial fire under your husband (which will undoubtedly set a confrontational tone for the rest of the divorce proceedings), consider the following 5 tips on how to divorce your husband.
Hopefully, they will help save you time, money and your sanity during the divorce process.
I want to divorce my husband. What should I do?
Tip #1: Enlist the help of a professional.
I-want-a-divorce-but-my-husband-doesnt-emsFirst thing’s first. Divorce is stressful and can trigger a whirlwind of intense emotions – for both spouses.
An individual therapist or couples counselor can help you sort through and process your emotions.
They can also help you prepare for and gain the confidence you need to have a (hopefully) calm and rational conversation with your husband about the reality of the situation and your desire to end your marriage peacefully.
And if you still have doubts about actually wanting a divorce, especially if you are still in love with your husband, you might consider going to discernment counseling or marriage counseling together.
If your husband doesn’t want to split up but is willing to join you in counseling, it can create a safe space for both of you to share how you feel and for you to communicate you want a divorce.