It's never easy to decide if you and your spouse should divorce. But, every 36 seconds there is a divorce in the United States. That's over 870,000 divorces every year in one country. You are not alone. But, the process can be stressful and complicated without knowing what's ahead of you. DMK Divorce Essentials test can help.
Take the Divorce Essentials Test
DMK Marriage Workshop and Divorce Workshop have specific tests that are designed to help you at any stage of marital problems. If you are not sure divorce is right for you, first take the DMK Marriage Essentials test and DMK Separation Essentials test. Then if you and your spouse are still considering a divorce, this DMK Divorce Essentials test can help you prepare.
Instructions:
The rating is between 1 - 10 (10 being the best) and is based on your current preparedness of the essential needs to proceed with divorce. Use the table below and refer to the potential rating of each divorce essential and the overall points for the test. Complete the test with or without your spouse. Process the total score as an individual, couple or both.
- Add your points to obtain your score. Then grade your test with the Divorce Grading System below Table 1.
Table 1. Divorce Essentials Test
| DMK Divorce Essentials | Wife's Rating | Husband's Rating | Combined Rating |
| Couple has committed to divorce and/or taken the Marriage Essentials test. | 0-10 (10) | 0-10 (10) | 0-20 (20) |
| Couple has completed the Separation Essentials test and has a minimum combined score of 208 or higher or individual score of 116 or higher. | 0-10 (20) | 0-10 (20) | 0-20 (40) |
| Each spouse has emotional management protocols in place for themselves and/or members of the family to include: activities, peer support, counseling, etc. | 0-10 (30) | 0-10 (30) | 0-20 (60) |
| Couple has met applicable essential necessities in all four categories of the DMK Divorce Essentials Section (Emotional Divorce, Separation, Legal Divorce, Post-Divorce) | 0-10 (40) | 0-10 (40) | 0-20 (80) |
| Couple has satisfied the state's requirements for separation and separation longevity to qualify for a divorce. | 0-10 (50) | 0-10 (50) | 0-20 (100) |
| Legal representation or mediation services has been established as has the type of divorce and expected time frame to it's completion. | 0-10 (60) | 0-10 (60) | 0-20 (120) |
| Each spouse has a divorce file with all documents as noted in the Divorce Essentials "Important Documents Assembled" Both A and B | 0-10 (70) | 0-10 (70) | 0-20 (140) |
| Both spouses are aware of the laws regarding divorce and have been informed if they are in an Equitable Distribution State or Community Property State and how it affects their divorce. | 0-10 (80) | 0-10 (80) | 0-20 (160) |
| Both spouses regard current separation agreement as the basis for the final Divorce Settlement and negotiate amendments with a legal representative, mediator or directly (unless advised otherwise). | 0-10 (90) | 0-10 (90) | 0-20 (180) |
| Both spouses have recorded all personal property and the leaving spouse has taken all personal property he/she has negotiated at the time of separation. | 0-10 (100) | 0-10 (100) | 0-20 (200) |
| Spouses understand tax and debt liabilities following the divorce settlement. Each spouse understands and/or has already satisfied any and all requirements for divorce in their resident state to include: legal separation, "Children of Divorced Parents" programs, presentation of all required documents, etc. | 0-10 (110) | 0-10 (110) | 0-20 (220) |
| Couple has considered the entirety of the DMK Divorce Essentials to understand all long-term results of a divorce. | 0-10 (120) | 0-10 (120) | 0-20 (240) |
| Both spouses have considered long-term financial provisions and income. Both spouses have secured separate residences and/or households. | 0-10 (130) | 0-10 (130) | 0-20 (260) |
| Total Scores | 130 Possible | 130 Possible | 260 Possible |
Grading Your Readiness for a Divorce
1. The Divorce Grading System
Your total Divorce Essential test scores are useful to determine if you are ready to proceed with divorce.
- Each spouse grades on the scale of 0-10
- This means the total points together for each essential need is 20
- Add your total combined points and divide by 13 to get your score or use the chart below
| Divorce Score | Total Points Together | Total Individual Points | Divorce Readiness |
| Excellent 90% - 100% | 234 - 260 points | 117 - 130 points | Acknowledgement and/or action has been taken to conclude each spouse understands the importance of the divorce essential needs and is ready to proceed. |
| Good 80% - 89% | 208 - 233 points | 116 - 104 points | Spouses have begun to take action and/or acknowledge the essential needs but more attention is needed to proceed. |
| Fair 70% - 79% | 182 - 207 points | 91 - 103 points | Spouses have recognized what is needed as part of the divorce process but many essential needs require immediate attention to proceed with divorce. This score indicates there are marriage problems but minimal action to solve the problems has occurred. Maintaining this level of commitment to solve the problems for long periods of time can damage both spouses and members of the household. Serious action should be considered. |
| Poor 60% - 69% | 156 - 181 points | 78 - 90 points | Spouses should research information relevant to the divorce essentials to realize why they're important and the steps needed to acknowledge and/or take action to complete each one. This score indicates there are marriage problems with minimal action taken to solve the problems. This can be damaging to each spouse and others in the household. Serious action required. |
| Fail <60% | 155 points or less | 77 points or less | Both spouses need to consider if a divorce will benefit them. They are currently neglecting the necessary steps to proceed. Research, acknowledgement/and or action is needed immediately. This score indicates marriage problems with insignificant actions to solve them. This is damaging to each spouse and other members of the household. Decisions need to be made to determine the course of action. Use this test and the DMK Marriage Essentials or DMK Divorce Essentials as a basis to start. Serious action required. |
2. The Divorce "Essential" Grading System (together)
How to grade your readiness on individual divorce essentials
The score for each essential need should also be determined to pinpoint areas that need attention.
- Maximum points on each essential need is 20
- Add your points together and divide by 20 to score on each essential or use the chart below
- Example: Legal Representation - Wife 0, Husband 10 (0+10=10 divide by 20= 50%)
- Only complete the test as an individual if your spouse is not also completing the test with you. Skip this section and proceed to #3
| Divorce Essential Score | Total Points Together | Divorce Essential Readiness |
| Excellent 90% - 100% | 18 - 20 points | Acknowledgement and/or action has been taken to conclude the couple understands the importance of this essential and are ready to proceed. |
| Good 80% - 89% | 16 - 17 points | The couple has begun to take action and/or acknowledge this essential but more attention is needed to proceed. |
| Fair 70% - 79% | 14 - 15 points | This essential need is recognized by one or both spouses as an important part of the divorce process but it requires immediate attention. |
| Poor 60% - 69% | 12 - 13 points | Research information relevant to this essential need to realize why it is important and then complete the steps needed to acknowledge and/or take action to complete it. |
| Fail <60% | 11 points or less | Immediate attention to this essential need is recommended unless it is not relevant to the couple's situation. If it is, immediately research, acknowledge and/or take action to complete it. |
3. The Divorce "Essential" Grading System (individually)
How to grade each spouse on individual essentials
The score for each essential need will help you determined to pinpoint areas that need attention.
- Maximum points for each essential need is 10
- Divide your individual points by 10 to get your score for each individual essential or use the chart below
- Example: Legal Representation - Wife 0=0%, Husband 10=100%
| Divorce Essential Score | Total Individual Points | Divorce Essential Readiness |
| Excellent 90% - 100% | 9 - 10 points | Acknowledgement and/or action has been taken to conclude each spouse understands the importance of this essential and are ready to proceed. |
| Good 80% - 89% | 8 points | One or both spouses have begun to take action and/or acknowledge this essential but more attention is needed to proceed. |
| Fair 70% - 79% | 7 points | This essential need is recognized as an important part of the divorce process but it requires immediate attention. |
| Poor 60% - 69% | 6 points | Take the time to further research information relevant to this essential need to realize why it's important and the steps needed to acknowledge and/or take action to complete it. |
| Fail <60% | 5 points or less | Immediate attention to this essential need is recommended unless it is not relevant to the couple's situation. If it is, immediately research, acknowledge and/or take action to complete it. |
Utilize our other tests to make each step easier in the process of saving or ending your marriage.
Marriage Problems
Click here
Preparing to Separate
Click here
Read another article in our DMK Divorce Workshop
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