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Ending a marriage can be a healthy choice

While making the decision to end your marriage can be a difficult, stressful choice, the reality is that many people are doing the right thing by moving on. Not all marriages are built to last, whether it’s because of not getting along, growing apart or other issues.

There are different reasons why people choose to end their marriages. You might be in a situation where your spouse treats you badly or indifferently. Perhaps you have no more patience or hope that your marriage will be positive. Maybe it’s you who feels angry or indifferent with your spouse.

No matter what the core cause is, it’s important that you explore your options. If you are truly unhappy in your marriage, it does make sense to look into separating or divorcing, especially if you have already tried counseling.

Indecision can be as damaging as divorce

When you’re indecisive, there are many aspects of your life that can be affected.

When you’re unable to make a decision, your life is stuck in a kind of limbo. You may see a decline in your health, trouble in your relationships and issues at work. You might be moody or frustrated. Making a decision to divorce could be hard, but if doing so means that you’ll be more stable and have a happier outcome, then it is likely the right choice for you.

You’re the only person who knows if divorce is right for you

You can take your case to an attorney and talk through what you’re thinking, but at the end of the day, it’s up to you to decide if a divorce is right for you. Some of the things you’ll want to do before you decide include:

  • Working out a budget to determine if you can afford divorcing at this point in time
  • Using your budget to determine if you would need to ask for alimony or spousal support
  • Talking to your spouse about going to marriage counseling
  • Gathering documents to support your case if you do decide to separate from your spouse
  • Talk to friends or family members you trust about your concerns and the way you’re trying to handle marital issues

If you do decide that a divorce is the right option, you will need to separate from your spouse. Before you can file, you’ll need to have lived in Minnesota for at least 180 days. Your attorney can talk to you more about if you need a separation period before the divorce can move forward.