The Inner Workings of a Law Firm

When The Time Is Right To Divorce

15 August 2018 by Jo Rodriquez

The road from marital harmony to divorce is usually gradual, and it can be difficult to know when it's really time to throw in the towel and make it legal. While staying in a dead marriage is harmful to all concerned, there are times when you might need to hold off. Read on for some tips that might indicate you need to either put the divorce on the back burner for a while or make an appointment with a lawyer.

You might want to wait a bit to file for divorce

If you can relate to some of the unique situations below, you might want to take a deep breath and stay married for the time being.

1. Have you been married for about 9 years?

Ten is the magical number if you want to take advantage of your spouse's Social Security earnings. You and your spouse must be married for at least ten years to be eligible for the divorced spousal benefit, so if you are nearly there, it might pay to wait. With this benefit, you can earn up to one-half of your spouse's Social Security retirement benefit even if you are divorced.

2. Is your child already tasked with too much to handle?

Both you and your child may be experiencing a lot of stress, and now might not be the time to add to it. The path to being a grownup is seldom smooth, and if your child is exhibiting behavior issues, learning disabilities, substance abuse, or other problems, then you might need to focus on handling one issue at a time and stay married for a little while longer.

3. Are you dealing with health issues?

Having a loved one or yourself sick or injured can be draining, and the divorce process is one that requires your full attention.

You might want to take legal action and file for divorce

Once you've attempted to make matters better by participating in marriage counseling, then it might be time to take action and move toward a fresh start. This is particularly true if you are dealing with some of the issues below.

1. Are you experiencing abuse, either physical or emotional?

Unless it's an isolated incident and your spouse is seeking help from a mental health professional, you should consider your marriage over. If you have children, then it's doubly important to seek safety and make your parting legal. Use care and have a safe place to go; planning ahead is very important.

2. Is your spouse unfaithful over and over again?

Cheating spouses are not necessarily a reason to end a marriage, but if your spouse refuses to stay faithful and you've already tried other measures, then it's time to call it quits. You deserve better, and the longer you stay, the less aware you will be of that fact.

If the time is right, speak to a divorce attorney like those found at Gomez May LLP about your marriage problems today.

Share