If you’re a husband who is seeing signs and signals that indicate your wife may file for divorce, there are some important things you should be aware of.
First of all, DO NOT move out of YOUR house. DO NOT go stay with someone else for a while. DO NOT relinquish control of YOUR possessions in any way.
If your wife suggests that the two of you “take a break” and “spend some time apart”, then directly and firmly let her know that SHE certainly has the right to go stay somewhere else but that you are NOT leaving your house.
Of course, it sometimes happens that a woman will have the locks changed on the house while her husband is away but more often than not, if a man tells his wife that if anyone is leaving it will be her, then, she’ll be the one who does the leaving.
Now, this is important for a number of reasons…
One, when a man leaves, it gives a woman extra space and freedom to initiate the divorce. For whatever reason, it seems to be easier for a woman to file for divorce when she’s separated from her husband.
Two, it sets the foundation for the woman to get custody of any children by default. If you care about your children at all, this is very important.
Three, lawyers can and WILL distort anything and everything you’ve ever said or done – which means if you try to be the nice guy and leave your house to give your wife her “space” until things get “worked out”, and things take a turn for the worse instead of for the better, then don’t be surprised if in court your separation gets morphed into something like, “This horrible abuser ABANDONED his family and left them to fend for themselves.”
Now, before you start thinking to yourself that I’m some amazingly negative person with major issues and a huge chip on his shoulder, please understand that I’m merely relating facts based on what happens to thousands of men every day.
In fact, before I continue on, let me inform you that every day, false charges are filed by women against the husband they are divorcing – simply to gain the upper hand on him in the divorce and/or custody proceedings. And, these false charges are usually of a very serious nature – ranging from “alleged” physical abuse to outright claims of sexual abuse – often resulting in the woman gaining a protective order which blocks the husband from all access to his children and possessions.
Ok, let’s continue… The second thing you should know is that if your wife files for divorce, EXPECT her to become vicious in all sorts of ways you would have never dreamed of – ways that hurt you and cost you. I’ll give you two common examples.
One, it’s typical for husbands to want JOINT custody of the children. In other words, they want their children to have equal access to both their father and their mother. And, that seems like a reasonable sort of arrangement, don’t you think?
Well, court records PROVE that with very, very few exceptions, women seek SOLE custody of the children – and specifically, they mostly seek an arrangement where children have as little access or contact with their father as possible.
Two, in the context of a divorce, it’s typical for husbands to want a fair and equitable distribution of the property. Again, that seems like the fair thing to do, wouldn’t you agree?
But again, court records PROVE that with very few exceptions, women seek to get ALL of the major possessions of worth or value. It seems that women rationalize to themselves that their husband has some unfair advantage such that she needs EVERYTHING to continue on and he needs NOTHING because he can easily go make a new start.
The third thing you should know is that it’s certainly appropriate to want to work things out between you and your wife. By all means, let her know that you would PREFER to work things out with her…that you’d PREFER to make a fresh start where you do a better job of meeting her needs and equally as important, where she does a better job of meeting your needs too.
She may or may not accept your INVITATION.
If she doesn’t, LET her be an individual who is free to make her own choices and who is free to pursue whatever paths in life she chooses to pursue – even if that means one without you.
DO NOT supplicate. DO NOT beg. DO NOT pester her with “tracking” calls any time the two of you are apart. DO NOT stalk or spy. DO NOT project insecurity and paranoia. Be a man. Respect yourself. You’re a survivor and a winner. You WILL be ok with or without this PARTICULAR woman.
If your wife chooses to move on without you, there are plenty of quality women in this world who would be EAGER to join paths with you.
Of course, you don’t want to go overboard with this such that your wife thinks you don’t have any interest in her. That obviously wouldn’t help improve your marriage.
On the other hand, if she does accept your invitation, that’s wonderful. Promptly and proactively seek for ways of improving your marriage relationship.
When it comes to “fixing” relationships, the pattern is that men tend to procrastinate and women tend to act. And specifically, women tend act by interviewing multiple attorneys, by making plans and arrangements – all the way down to knowing exactly where you’re at and making sure any children are with her when she fires off her dirty deed of filing for divorce. The result is that men willingly put themselves in a position of HUGE disadvantage.
So, your best option is to DO something TODAY to turn your marriage around for the better.
Whatever you do, don’t leave things in limbo – put time frames and constraints on things. Many a woman has strung her husband along while she’s out playing the field, making alternate arrangements, and setting up a new life without him while he’s at home hoping she’ll come back around.
And, just so you know, when a man is passive in this way, it just proves to his wife that he’s not man enough for her and that she needs to find someone else who is manlier.
Also, a word of warning…
Beware of counselors who want to pull up and “analyze” all the bad stuff that’s happened in your marriage as this will only serve to emphasize the negatives that your wife is already holding in her mind and further suggest to her that leaving you is the right thing to do.
Your wife is already acknowledging internally all the bad stuff and perceived wrongs that’s happened in your marriage in a strong, vivid way and anything that “strengthens” her in this state is only going to work AGAINST you.
So, if you and your wife are still in the same house and nothing has happened yet, then I URGE you to get these two books (available at MarriedAndHappy.com/Catalog) right away:
“How To Turn Your Wife Into A Nymphomaniac”
“Strategies and Tactics for the Husband in a Sexless Marriage”
Not only will these two books show you what you need to do to save your marriage, they will also show you how to get the kind of marriage you want – a happy, sexual one.
Now, if you’re reading this and your wife has already filed for divorce, then I have two important recommendations for you:
One, I highly recommend that you IMMEDIATELY go to Amazon.com and get the following book OVERNIGHTED to yourself:
The Father’s Emergency Guide to Divorce-Custody Battle: A Tour Through the Predatory World of Judges, Lawyers, Psychologists & Social Workers, in the Subculture of Divorce by William Dawes
Also, if you have children, I STRONGLY recommend you get these books too:
Custody for Fathers: A Practical Guide Through the Combat Zone of a Brutal Custody Battle by Carleen Brennan
Fighting for Your Children: A Father’s Guide to Custody by John Steninbreder
Fathers’ Rights: Hard-Hitting & Fair Advice for Every Father Involved in a Custody Dispute by Jeffery Leving
All four of the above listed books are critically important to a man with children facing a divorce.
Perhaps most important is that they will educate a man on how to direct and drive his attorney in a way that’s useful to him. Without the information contained in these books, a man’s attorney will more often than not work AGAINST him more than he works FOR him. But, with the knowledge contained in these books, a man is better armed to protect himself and his interests.
The second recommendation is to realize that EVERYTHING is important in a divorce proceeding. If your attorney tells you something isn’t really important then understand that HE/SHE is probably LYING to you.
For example, attorney after attorney has told husband after husband that the initial “Temporary Hearing” (the “Pendente Lite”) was “no big deal” and that it wasn’t important for him to be there. Well, the fact of the matter is that this is usually the MOST IMPORTANT hearing there is because key precedents are set which shape the way things are to be LONG-TERM.
Similarly, everything a man signs is important. For example, many a man has signed an unfavorable agreement in good faith based on his attorney’s statement of “just until we get this worked out”. Unfortunately, that unfavorable agreement became a binding and legal agreement that the man had to live with for the next 10 to 20 years – or in some cases, for the rest of his life (or his ex-wife’s life).
Copyright 2009, Article by Calle Zorro of MarriedAndHappy.com. Permission is granted to reprint this article ONLY if a resource box pointing to the following website is included with it.
Calle Zorro
http://www.articlesbase.com/divorce-articles/i-think-my-wife-is-about-to-file-for-divorce-help-737370.html
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Wife wants divorce, but wants to keep everything else the same? She still wants to be with me? Please help?
Hello.
My wife (of 5 months) served me with divorce papers 3 months ago. We were only married for 2 months when she filed for divorce.
We got married at the JOP (magistrate) and we kept it a secret from friends and family – because she said she wanted it to be a special thing between us. The plan was to get officially engaged shortly after and have a traditional wedding next year.
She filed for divorce because we got into our first big fight. The fight started because she was talking and texting another guy who she just became friends with. She lied to me about talking and texting him so much, but I found out that it was almost every day. So, instead of jumping to conclusions, I asked her about it. She flipped out on me and said that I’m a typical controlling guy and if I didn’t leave the topic alone she couldn’t be in a relationship like that. I kept at it (like an idiot because I wanted answers) and she we running to her mom. She told her mom everything. Her mom flipped out when she found out that we secretively got married and called me. Her mom told me that her daughter would have never gotten married without talking to her first and that I must have tricked her into marrying me. Well – 2 days later my wife filed for divorce.
We have since been to a relationship couselor every week for the last 3 months. Our 90 day "cooling off" period ends next week and we’ll be able to finalize the divorce if we choose too.
Well, for the last 3 months everything has been great between us. We talked through our issues and we dealt with the talking/texting the other guy issue too. She said she understood why it might have bothered me and talks to him much less. I ended up meeting him and he just got engaged to a great girl and they are in the process of buying a house. My wife and him were just friends. I was just paranoid I guess.
Anyways, she told me last week that she wants to go through with the divorce. She assured me that she still wants to live with me, continue to be with me, and she said that she wants to spend the rest of her life with me. She said she wants me to propose to her and for us to get married the "traditional way". She said getting divorced would help put the "bad thoughts of us fighting" behind her and it would be like a fresh start on our relationship.
I was totally caught off guard by this because we have been working on staying married and even our marriage counselor doesn’t understand. He said getting divorced wouldn’t make bad memories go away, and that’s something that we have to work on ourselves and in time those memories would/could be replaced by better memories.
Another issue is that all the sudden (around the time she broke the news to me last week), she has been a little bit less affectionate, and she calls/texts me MUCH less now. I don’t know what’s going on.
Can anyone understand why she would want to get divorced but keep everything else the same? And why she would want me to propose to her within 6-12 months and do it the traditional way? Why get divorced and get married again? It’s strange to me. Do you think there is another motive? It just doesn’t seem normal to me.
I’m 31 and she’s 29. We’ve been together for 1.5 years.
haha dopnt let her have her cake and eat it too…you will be destroyed if you allow this to continue
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This girl is definitely not normal!
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Wow, I was shocked when I got to the end of this and read your ages. I thought you were like l8.
It is a red flag when youhave to sneak to get married and keep secrets.
Get divorced and start over with a clean slate. She wants to start over and do things right for her family probably. Whatever you two need to take a break and be sure this is right. There are so many red flags here that support the fact that you jsut arent ready for marriage.
Sorry, doubt you wanted to hear that. I hope things work out for you in time.
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yikes, waaaay too long. You got married too soon pal. Run like heck!
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Wow, short marriage…But I am sorry…when the word divorce comes into play, there is keeping nothing the same… Even though you said she was 29, sounds like your future ex wife, is a little on the immature side (and they say women mature a lot faster than guys) SMH. As far as you not understanding why she would want to get divorced and married again, your guess is as good as mine…That is a little weird. Because technically you guys are legally married…you can just have a wedding ceremony without having to get divorced…Again as far as her being 29, she is a grown adult and running to her mommy whenever you guys get into your first big fight, especially after your wife texting and talking to another guy, doesnt sound like she was ready to marry in the beginning…and I would leave this 1 1/2 year relationship, before your future ex mother in law, makes her way into your business for the rest of your life.
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Get the divorce and go through with it and move on. End the relationship for good. There are so many problems with the way she is treating you and your overall relationship it’s ridiculous. Sometimes is difficult deciding what to do but in this case I think the answer is obvious, even to you if you are strong enough to admit it to yourself. You need to end this relationship and move on before this woman manipulates and eventually destroys you.
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She is still listening to her mother, you might explain to her that for a divorce will cause bad feelings for you. In addition you might add that you could get married again with out the divorce. Do you want to stay together if you divorce?
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Give it up already! Get divorced and find someone else. You wife’s behavior forebodes a lot of trouble. There is a reason why marriage can only be sustained when both partner’s realize that, coming from different worlds, disagreements are part and parcel of living together. This sort of erratic behavior does not bode well for any marriage. Check out my source and find out about the qualities that make for a successful relationship.
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http://www.compatiblelives.com/
Tell her to grow up. She is a mature woman and I’m sure she knows what she wants at this point in her life. She wants to keep you on the hook. Tell her to take you or leave you. You do not need this emotional roller coaster.
Taking a romantic trip together will bond your marriage. You don’t need a do over to make things right. Be careful, you may end up on the bad side of things. She sounds a little manipulative and has her mommy coaching her.
good luck
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She is mentally ill.
I suggest you take the divorce.
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Oh, dear Pinocchio!!! She’s got you by the strings & is making you dance! She wants to divorce you yet still live together UNTIL SHE FINDS BETTER ACCOMMODATIONS. She’s playing you for a fool & taking advantage of your feelings for her. Sorry, but I think the woman’s a b*tch! Is she bi-polar???? Just allow the divorce to go thru & then go find yourself a REAL woman who will love you & appreciate you for who you are. Let this chick you are married to go back to her mama until she grows up, or finds another sucker to put up with her crap!
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You are absolutely right, when you say:
"It just doesn’t seem normal to me." She is NOT normal!
SHE is playing you big time. Finalize the divorce, and set yourself free from her. Should you continue any form of life with her, you will strongly regret it! She has definitely inherited her insanity from her mother.
PLEASE, walk away, and DON’T look back!
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Are you sure she’s 29? She sounds like she’s 16. (Actually, that’s an insult to mature sixteen year olds.) Anyway, your wife doesn’t seem to have any comprehension of what marriage involves, particularly when it comes to conflict. She freaked out after your first fight, and now she’s trying to back out of the lifelong commitment she made without the mess of an actual breakup or having to work through the problems that came up. That doesn’t mean she doesn’t still have feelings for you or want to hang on to you in at least some sense, but you need to make it clear to her that you can’t wipe the slate clean this way. If she’s going to threaten something as serious as divorce, then she needs to face the serious consequences involved.
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Wow, well, she is being a little over dramatic.If you love her, do it I suppose, but if you dont want to let her go honey. She seems like she is just falling away from you. That or she is cheating. This seems very wrong to me, and with the sudden lack of communication, I dont belive she is still willing to spend her life with you. Run dont walk, the papers are there sign them and go. I am 18 and engaged, dated for 2 years previous to the engagment and the wedding is in 2011. And I can say that if this were the case with my fiance and I one or both of us would be running for the door.
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No, I can’t understand why she would want to get divorced, only to get remarried. What I do understand is that you need to take a stand for yourself now. You were not wrong to confront her about her texting and talking to another guy. Who cares if he turned out to be with someone else. It doesn’t mean he wasn’t also interested in your wife or that your wife wasn’t interested in him.
The only thing I can think of is that she has realized that she isn’t ready for marriage or she doesn’t want to be with you. Will she have to live with her mother if you kick her out? Maybe that’s why she wants to stay. She just wants to string you along so she doesn’t have to live with her mom.
I would either tell her to stay married or get out.
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I hate childish games..i would divorce her and move on with my life.
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