Situation
With the prevalence of divorce as a common phenomenon in the contemporary society, procuring a divorce has become very easy, so far as the procedural requirements are concerned. Such a scenario often creates tricky situations for the unsuspecting spouses. Let us imagine one such situation. Consider that you spent the golden years of your life in nurturing and caring for your family. You left no stone unturned in sacrificing your personal happiness for the well being of the family you think you could call your own. You harboured immense faith and trust in your spouse and genuinely believed that he/she is appreciative of what you are doing for the family. Suddenly one day you receive the surprise of your life. Your spouse slapped you with a divorce notice for no fault of yours. You are aptly conveyed that you simply do not fit into the scheme of things and are no more wanted by your spouse. You never suspected this in your wildest imagination. You are faced with a situation in which your callous partner is simply trying to dump you unceremoniously, without any provocation on your part. You find your self dumbstruck and desperately fumbling for what to do in such a scenario. How should you react to such a situation? What will you do to deal with such a crises?
Reflect
Practically speaking there are two options left open to you. Either you may chose to become a victim of your spouse’s whims and decide to contest the divorce in the court of law or you may take a higher ground and make a determined bid to rescue your marriage. The situation demands intense introspection and reflection on your part. Has your spouse always been boorish and irresponsible and you already expected him/her to do something so foolish or he/she has been more or less amicable and responsible and this act on his part has come as a surprise to you? If you come to the conclusion that your spouse has in general been insensitive and raw, then chances are that you were more or less already prepared for such an eventuality and this act of his/her is not much of a surprise for you. However, if the things are the other way round, then a tactful handling on your part can save the day for you.
Try to Gain Time
Try to convince your spouse that you agree that he/she may be having genuine reasons to resort to such a drastic step. Make him/her believe that you sympathize with his/her situation and are on his/her side. Convince him/her that you are willing to co-operate and request him/her to give you a month or two to think about and prepare for this outcome. Your main motive behind this act is to gain some time. Chances are that if this was a whimsical act on the part of your spouse or was motivated by intense anger for you (about which you do not know), he/she may cool off within a few days and may reconsider his/her intentions. If nothing more, at least you can utilize the given time to convince him/her to communicate with you. It will also give you time for self-analysis and planning your next move.
Communicate
Try to communicate with your spouse. Open up with him/her and unblock the clogged channels of communication. Make a sincere attempt to investigate the reasons behind this act on his/her part. Was it owing to some long pending incompatibility issue which has festered over a period of time? Was it owing to some mistake or blunder on your part which moved him/her to do so? If not then chances are that your spouse may be involved in an extra marital affair. Ask him/her why did he/she do so and if he/she is aware of the possible consequences of this episode on the well being of the entire family? What influence will it have on the kids? Perhaps your spouse may choose to co-operate and reconsider his/her decision. With your patience, tact and negotiation skills, you could bring your erring spouse back on the track and can successfully save your marriage.
Prepare for a Divorce
However, if despite repeated efforts and requests on your part, your spouse continues to be stubborn and insensitive and refuses to yield, then it is advisable that you make preparations for divorce. Hire a good solicitor and protect your rights and assets.
