About half of all first marriages end in divorce, and a full 60 percent of remarriages end in divorce as well.

Relationship coach Alyssa Johnson has developed a few questions to ask yourself before you get married again:

• How long have I been divorced?

Most research suggests that waiting a period of at least 2 years before remarrying allows for the greatest chance for success. You need to take time to heal first. Then you need to take the time to get to know another person.

• How long have we dated?

Again, remarriage research shows us that the longer the dating period the more successful the marriage. Unfortunately many remarriages are done on the rebound and therefore happen more quickly than first marriages. Take the “four season approach” – know someone in all four seasons, at least a year, before remarriage.

• Am I emotionally ready to move on?

You have to put the first one behind you before you can be successful in the next one. If you drag emotional baggage from a first marriage into the next marriage, you drastically reduce your chances of success.

• How well do my children know my new partner?

You hear a lot of talk about “blended families.” I don’t like that term because it implies that the blending has been done and all the work is over.

Blending a family is a life-long work in progress. Do you kids know your new partner?

• How do I know if my kids are ready?

While you do have the deciding vote, the hearts of your children are involved and on the line here too. Are they ready for this huge step? If yes, great. If no, then what needs to happen for them to be ready?

• What do we need to know about being a part of a step-family?

How much do you know about how to do this? Who are your models? Where will you get your support?

• What do my partner and I expect from this marriage?

Talk about the important things before you get married again. Do not fall for the myth that everything will work out fine once you are married. Things that are issues now will be amplified after you are married. Ask the hard questions and talk about the important issues now.

You want this next one to be the last one. Make sure you have these bases covered before you say “I do” again.

For more tips and tools for remarriages and blending families you are invited to check out http://www.ReMarriageSuccess.com.

Jeff Herring, MS, LMFT, is a marriage and family therapist.

E-mail him at [email protected] or, for more tips and tools for living you can visit www.JeffHerringOnline.com.