How to Leave Your Husband When You Don’t Want to be Married

If you’re thinking about divorce, you’re also wondering how you leave your husband. These tips will help you decide whether leaving your husband is a good idea.

Ending a marriage may be one of the hardest things you’ll ever do – even if your marriage is awful – but leaving your husband is sometimes the only way to create the life you want. These tips may help you figure out if it’s time to leave when you feel trapped.

“When two people decide to get a divorce, it isn’t a sign that they ‘don’t understand’ one another, but a sign that they have, at last, begun to,” said American writer Helen Rowland.

Are you just beginning to understand your husband and your marriage — and it’s worse than you expected? Then maybe it’s time to leave him. If you’re confused about leaving your husband, read Contemplating Divorce: A Step-by-Step Guide to Deciding Whether to Stay or Go.

And here are several things to think about as you prepare to leave your husband when you’re trapped in a bad marriage…

Should You Leave Your Husband? A Few Things to Think About…

Prepare your children – the family is changing

Some kids will want to know everything, and others won’t. A separation or divorce will be traumatic for some, and a relief for others. It may be difficult to find the emotional and mental energy to talk to your kids about the separation, but it’s a mistake to leave them in the dark. If you’re leaving your husband, try to give your kids the time, attention, and answers they deserve. The smoother you try to make their transition, the smoother yours will be.

Make sure you’re financially stable

You don’t need enough money to live on for a long time, but you should have at least three months of living expenses saved up. Figure out how much money you’ll need to spend on rent, household bills, transportation, and other expenses. If you need to borrow money, don’t be embarrassed or ashamed to ask a family member – it’s just a loan, and most relatives want to help if they can. You can reassure both them and yourself that you’ll pay it back  — read Tips for Lending Money to Friends or Family Members.

Prepare for awkward moments with friends

You’ll lose some friends if you leave your husband — even if it’s a bad marriage. You’ll keep some friends, and you may have to defend yourself to others. Be prepared for a wide range of possible reactions from friends: anger, grief, shock, disbelief, etc.

This was one of the questions my reader asked about, on 7 Ways to Tell if Your Marriage is Over. How will her friends react?

Prepare for painful moments with family members

Separation or divorce can be very hard on extended family members, such as parents in-law, aunts, uncles, siblings, grandparents, and cousins. Leaving your husband isn’t just about you, your husband, and your marriage; it affects the people you’re related to. Try not to feel guilty about your decision to separate – you’re making a decision that best suits your life. But, remember that family members may take it hard.

Take inventory of the household items you want to keep

Dividing the possessions you acquired as a couple may be difficult, especially if you’ve been married for decades. Figuring out who gets what may be part of the divorce negotiations, or it could be decided by you and your husband privately. Either way, it’s smart to decide in advance what you absolutely must keep, what you want but will part with, and what you’re happy to let your husband have. You may lose cherished items…and that may be one of the costs of leaving a bad marriage.

If you think you’ll struggle with money after you leave, read Preparing Financially for a Divorce.

Join a support group for women leaving their husbands

Often, the best way to overcome or survive anything – including leaving your husband – is to spend time with people who have “been there, done that.” Or, who are currently doing it! Find people who are experiencing the same situation and emotions as you – it doesn’t even have to be a formal divorce support group. Be honest about what you’re going through and the type of help you need.

Learn about different ways to get divorced

Self-representation, divorce mediation, collaborative divorce, and litigation are all described in Leaving Your Husband or Wife – 4 Ways to File for Divorce. You don’t need to make any decisions about divorce right away, but it may be good to start thinking about your options.

Knowing how to leave your husband involves letting go of someone you love. Letting go isn’t something you do once and poof! You’re free, healed, and happy. Rather, letting go is a journey peppered with steps forward and steps backward, good days and bad days, peaks and valleys.

If you’re considering divorce, you may find 101 Things to Do the First Year of Your Divorce helpful. It’ll change how you view divorce!

If your husband cheated, read Healing the Pain When Your Husband Has Been Unfaithful.

The Psychology of Love

• Is He Cheating? Learn the Truth
• Free Online Marriage Help – Mort Fertel
• Captivate Him – Be the Woman He Never Wants to Leave

If you have any thoughts on leaving your husband and a bad marriage, please comment below. I can’t offer marriage counseling or advice, but sometimes it helps to just write out your thoughts.

Tags: getting a divorce, how to leave your husband

Category: Breakup Survival Tips, Divorce Care Tips, Love & Relationships