As a family law firm, of course we see divorce as a positive thing in the right situation. We want people to be able to get out of terrible marriages and be able to start over.
However, divorce is still a big deal – it is a breaking of lifelong promises and it can cause serious challenges for both the divorcing spouses and their children – and we want to help people get divorces only when they are sure their marriages are beyond the point of salvation.
Don’t Get Divorced Until You Know It’s The Right Choice
Before you file for divorce, you need to make sure this is the right choice for you. So it is wise to consider some important last ditch efforts to salvage your marriage before filing. That way, either you can save your marriage or at least you can be totally sure and confident that you are doing the right thing.
Last Ditch Attempts to Save Your Marriage
There are a few things you can do to salvage your marriage before filing for divorce, including:
- Remember why you got married in the first place: Work to see the virtues in your spouse that made you fall in love in the first place. Revisit the site of your first date, look through an old photo album or do other activities to remind each other why you fell in love.
- Forgive each other: Forgiveness is not natural or easy, but it can be a tremendous saving action for marriages that are falling apart. Admit your mistakes and ask for forgiveness, and actually forgive your spouse for wrongs he or she has committed.
- Seek counsel and help: Having an expert from the outside who can see your relationship clearly and give you good counsel can be a tremendous help. Therapists or leaders in your spiritual tradition could provide solid help in salvaging your marriage.
- Utilize your spirituality: Regardless of your spiritual tradition, there might be no better way to save your marriage than by leaning into your faith.
These are just a few possible options for salvaging your relationship if your marriage is falling apart. There certainly are situations in which divorce is the very best option. However, it is premature to file for divorce until you have at least tried to salvage your marriage first.
If you have given your relationship that one last attempt and your relationship is still in trouble, then you will have the assurance you need to proceed with your divorce in confidence.