When facing divorce, it can be beneficial to plan in advance before filing any paperwork. As a result, it is important to understand why divorce tends to happen, as those who can see red flags and understand what’s likely coming have more time to prepare in order to better safeguard their interests.
Divorce is a complex and deeply personal matter, and the reasons for marital dissolution can vary widely from one couple to another. However, some common reasons that couples pursue this course of action are clear and can be identified with relative ease.
Communication issues
Lack of communication is one of the top reasons that couples seek a divorce. When couples can’t effectively talk about all of their feelings, concerns, dreams, needs and desires, it can lead to misunderstandings and conflicts.
Infidelity
Extramarital affairs or cheating can lead to a loss of trust and emotional connection between spouses, often resulting in divorce. Infidelity can also have an impact on property division in some cases, such as when the unfaithful spouse was using family funds excessively on a new partner.
Financial issues
Financial stress can put quite a lot of pressure on a marriage. Difficulties could stem from differing financial priorities, excessive levels of debt or disagreements over saving and spending habits. A common issue is financial infidelity, when couples are not transparent about how they are spending money. They may even intentionally hide spending activity from the other person.
Lack of intimacy
A lack of physical or emotional intimacy can lead to feelings of dissatisfaction and unhappiness in a marriage. Over time, this can result in divorce. Even if couples appear to be doing well from the outside – they aren’t facing major financial challenges, for instance – this lack of connection between them can be problematic.
Incompatibility
Sometimes, couples realize that they are fundamentally incompatible in terms of values, interests or life goals which can lead to divorce. This is sometimes the case when couples get married young and then grow apart over time, as they both mature and develop differently.
Divorce is a personal decision for every couple, and the reasons for it can be complex and multifaceted. Couples facing challenges in their marriage need to know exactly what legal steps to take to safeguard their interests. Common issues they will need to address include parenting time, asset division and future parental rights. Seeking legal guidance can serve as a solid starting point.