Every couple fights and goes through some difficult times. Many times, it is possible to make up and move forward. Other times, the future is very uncertain. If you are fighting with your spouse and they have started talking about divorce, you might very well be scared and upset, particularly if you are not interested in a divorce.
Under these circumstances, people tend to panic and could end up making some mistakes that jeopardize their future – whatever that looks like. If you are in this situation, you should try to stay calm and take some steps to protect yourself.
- Stay off social media. Or, at least keep the details of your situation off social media. Venting online or making inflammatory comments about your spouse, your financial situation or your kids could come back to haunt you – whether you reconcile or end up in court.
- Reinforce the connection with your children. Too many people make the mistake of moving out or leaving to avoid their spouse, not realizing that they are also leaving their kids. This can be devastating for the children and make a parent look bad in the eyes of a judge in a child custody battle.
- Be careful with your money. Overspending, hiding assets and being unsure of the family finances can all prove to be costly mistakes. To protect your assets and commit to a fair property division process if you do ultimately file for divorce, you may want to familiarize yourself with options like Automatic Temporary Restraining Orders.
- Seek counseling. Whether you have personal issues that are straining your relationship, or you and your spouse both need to work on some things, talking to a counselor (separately or together) can be an important step in fully assessing your situation and the future.
It would also be wise to consult a family law attorney. Doing so doesn’t mean you are arming yourself for a divorce battle; it can simply be a way of discussing your situation and some ways to protect yourself until the future becomes clearer. Being on the verge of divorce is scary and emotional, but you don’t have to go through this alone.