Before your divorce case moves into mediation or litigation, there's an important step you can't afford to overlook: the manner in which you'll ask your spouse for a divorce.

If you're in a dead-end marriage, you may assume that it will be easy enough to tell your spouse that you want a divorce. However, as you prepare to do so, you'll come to find that there are many questions lingering in your mind.

The way you ask for a divorce has the potential to impact many aspects of the actual process. For example, if you make the mistake of arguing about child custody shortly after discussing your intentions, your spouse may take a tougher stance during negotiations.

Here are a few tips that can ease the tension associated with asking for a divorce:

• Prepare accordingly: You don't know what will happen, so it's best if you prepare for every possible situation. For example, if you have concerns about your spouse becoming angry or violent, consider asking for a divorce over the phone or in a public place, such as a restaurant.
• Don't change your mind: It's a mistake that's easy to make, so you must prepare for avoiding it. Your spouse may attempt to change your mind. They may even make a convincing case. However, if you know that divorce is what you want, now is not the time to change your mind.
• Don't get caught up in the details: The purpose of this conversation is to let your spouse know that you're going to file for divorce. This doesn't mean you should also discuss property division, child custody, child support and other family law matters. You will have time to negotiate all these details of your divorce in the near future.

There's no way of knowing exactly how your spouse will react when you bring up the topic of divorce. The best thing you can do is have a plan, stick to the basics and do your best to make the conversation as painless as possible.

Once your feelings are out in the open, turn your attention to the divorce process and the steps you can now take to protect your legal rights in Texas.