You’ve been going through a rough time in your marriage, and the subject of divorce was introduced by your spouse.
You know that all couples go through difficult patches in their lives, so you don’t think that they are necessarily serious. Could you be wrong?
About one in four married people consider divorce
At any given point, roughly 25% of married people report that they have thoughts of divorce — but only about 40% of those individuals actually say anything to their spouses. Plus, of the people who have thought about divorce recently, roughly 53% are “soft thinkers.”
They may entertain the notion of splitting up, but it isn’t what they want. Given those statistics, you may be right: Your spouse may not be serious about ending your marriage.
Don’t get too comfortable with the idea that your marriage is safe
If your spouse happens to be a “serious thinker” when it comes to divorce, however, your marriage may truly be in trouble. Some of the signs that your spouse is planning to leave include:
- Some of their personal possessions seem to be missing.
- They’re not interested in physical contact.
- They seem to be making financial arrangements without you.
- They no longer ask where you’re going or act relieved that you’re going out.
- They’re finding more and more reasons not to be home.
- They have “other plans” when you want time together.
- They’re outright hostile, rude or cold toward you.
There’s often a clear emotional and physical distancing that happens when one spouse is about to bolt.
If you think that your marriage may be on thin ice, it’s not a good idea to wait until your spouse leaves to learn more about your rights and legal options. Understanding more about the divorce process can help you cope if your spouse is serious about leaving.