It can be hard to maintain good communication during your marriage. When you decide to get divorced, communicating with your spouse can become even more difficult.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2018 in the U.S., 782,038 couples filed for a divorce or an annulment. If you are one of the many couples who have decided to end your marriage, these tips can help you enhance your communication and help the divorce process go smoothly.
1. Think about your tone
Your spouse may not respond well to you if you are sarcastic, condescending or angry. Before talking to your spouse, prepare yourself to use a respectful, businesslike tone throughout the conversation.
2. Outline boundaries
You and your spouse may be very familiar with each other, so it may be difficult to set boundaries for communication throughout the divorce process. At the start of your divorce, determine how you will communicate with your spouse and when.
3. Stick to divorce-related issues
Divorce can heighten your emotions, especially when you talk about dividing marital property or figuring out custody for any children you have. When you talk to your spouse, it can be easy to lose track of the conversation and start talking about other issues. Do what you can to only speak to issues and refrain from arguing about other topics.
Using a mediator may help you and your spouse communicate even more effectively during your divorce. The mediator you choose can encourage respectful communication between both parties and help you work through issues related to custody, property division and more.
