Lawyers are generally the last step, not much happens that is good once they are involved. I'd recommend couples counseling of some kind prior to that, and sitting down and laying things out and giving him/her time to think on it at the very least.
As dysfunctional as it is, I don't think either one of us would get lawyers involved. I think maybe I've managed to take the first step towards some kind of reconciliation between us. I think that perhaps the desperation of the situation may have created an environment where we are forced to work together for a common goal (saving what's been built so far).