What To Do When You’re Thinking Of Leaving

The first month of the year is when most people feel ready and motivated to make necessary changes to improve their lives, and this includes making a major relationship change. Unhappy couples are more likely to file for divorce in January than in any other month. But why?

In addition to seeing January as an opportunity for a fresh start, many married couples choose to wait until the winter holidays are over so as not to create instability for their kids or cause relatives to worry during such a festive, family-oriented time. However, once the new year begins, marriages begin to end.

If you’re currently thinking about getting a divorce, but aren’t sure what to do next, consider taking the following steps:

Tell your partner how you are feeling

Imagine how your spouse will react if they are unexpectedly served with divorce papers. They will more than likely be shocked, hurt, angry, and a lot less willing to proceed with a divorce in an amicable fashion. Talk with your spouse about how you are really feeling. Tell them what you want for your future. Be as clear and direct as possible, and keep blame and hurtful language out of the conversation. And, be sure to listen to what they have to say as well.

Meet with a counsellor together

If neither of you are entirely sure that you want to file for divorce, schedule an appointment with a marriage counsellor. Together you can explore if and why the marriage is worth saving.

Build a support system

If you are certain that divorce is what you want, then the next step is to surround yourself with people who will help and support you. Your divorce team may include friends, a family lawyer, a financial advisor, a divorce coach and a mediator. Divorce is never easy, but having a strong support system will help minimize confusion, and simplify the process.

Schedule a consultation with a family lawyer

Friends and family will always be happy to offer advice, but unless one of them is also has a law degree, it’s best that you hire a family lawyer who can give you sound legal information that is applicable to your specific case. Shulman Law Firm invites anyone seeking legal assistance for a family law matter to book a  consultation so that they have an opportunity to meet with one of our lawyers, learn about our processes, and gain some clarity about what their next steps will look like. We also recommend meeting with two or three lawyers before hiring one to ensure they find the one who can best serve their needs.

Gain a stronger understanding of what comes next

After consulting with a lawyer, you should have a clearer understanding of what may happen, and what will be expected of you, in the months to come. You should have a sense of what your legal rights and responsibilities are, as well as an idea of what you’ll need to do to ensure your rights are protected and goals are met.

If you’re ready to take the next step, give us a call us 416-649-4660, or click here to schedule a consultation today.