Common Causes Of Divorce

Marriage is one of the biggest decisions a person can make in life and is often one of the happiest decisions as well. However, the sad reality is that nearly one-half of marriages in the United States result in a divorce.

While every relationship is unique and faces its own challenges, a number of common causes lead to divorce. Understanding potential problems you may face in your marriage can help you determine the best course of action to either protect your marriage or commence a divorce.

Infidelity

Infidelity not only violates the commitment you and your spouse made to each other in marriage, but it usually undermines trust between spouses. When one person cheats on the other, it puts a huge strain on the trust established in the relationship and causes even more problems than trust issues alone.

A spouse being cheated on once can lead to them believing it is easily possible for them to be cheated on again. The strain of distrust may lead to new actions and needs in a relationship. For instance, a spouse may need more attention or reassurance to feel secure and trust that their spouse will be loyal to them in the future.

While it is possible to overcome the strains of infidelity and remain together after a spouse has cheated, it is also highly likely that the infidelity will ultimately lead to a breakdown of the marriage.

Financial Stress

Financial decision-making and planning a majority of Americans, whether they are in a relationship or not. When getting married, spouses need to address their financial decisions together because either of their decisions affect the other. These can be hard conversations and, sadly, are not always positive, productive conversations.

Debt is a major financial burden that can lead to divorce. Personal debts acquired before your marriage generally remain separate responsibilities unless your spouse was a co-signer on the debt. However, common decisions during the marriage – like buying a house or car together – can lead to joint debt that both spouses are responsible for repaying. Decisions about how to pay back this debt may lead to disagreements and stress.

Other financial factors that can lead to problems and, ultimately, divorce may include:

• Different attitudes toward money
• Financially supporting an extended family member or friend
• Mismatched financial goals and plans
• Resentment between partners who earn different amounts of money

Even early on in a marriage, financial problems can arise. Having a highly expensive, extravagant wedding without the proper financial means is one of the earliest causes of financial strain in a marriage. In such a case, the wedding itself can doom the marriage from the start.

Having an open and honest conversation early on about how you view finances and your financial goals can help you determine if you and your spouse have aligned plans. It will be important to consider how you each prefer to save and spend your money. Even better – have this discussion with your partner before you get married.

Raising Children

Married couples are usually overjoyed to become parents. When a child is an infant, their needs are usually very simple. However, as a child grows, their needs change and become more complex. Where will they go to school or preschool? What activities should they participate in? What kind of lifestyle would their parents like them to lead? What kind of support should they be given if they start having emotional, behavioral, or educational difficulties? A married couple’s differences on how to raise children and handle the challenges that come with parenthood can lead to substantial stress.

As with finances, it is crucial to try and get on the same page and compromise when spouses have their differences on parenting their children. If a married couple’s efforts alone are not enough, it may be a good idea to seek professional help from parenting therapists and counselors. People usually do not think that raising children could ever lead to divorce, but it is actually quite common.

Domestic Violence and Abuse

The sad reality is that domestic violence and abuse exist in marriages. Violence and abuse by one spouse or the other plays another major role in causing divorce.

When violence or abuse – both physical or emotional – occurs, it destroys any form of trust between married couples and leads to an unequal, unhealthy relationship. Such abuse is often used by one spouse to control the other spouse, leaving the victim feeling hurt, confused, trapped, and worthless. It is a fact that domestic violence is usually not limited to single events. It is usually a vicious cycle that repeats itself over and over.

This trauma can leave seen and unseen scars. Marriages are meant to be a relationship built on trust, love, and safety. Domestic violence and abuse wrecks this foundation. If you are experiencing domestic violence or abuse, you are not alone. Reach out to us or a domestic violence hotline to seek professional support. You should also report domestic violence to law enforcement.

Poor Communication

While a multitude of other reasons may lead to divorce, another major cause of divorce is a lack of clear and effective communication. With different communication habits, partners may hold grudges or make unfortunate assumptions about their relationship. In stressful situations, communication is key to being able to healthily express emotions and find a solution that satisfies both spouses in the marriage.

For example, a partner may have specific expectations for their relationship. Without clearly conveying these expectations, a partner may be unintentionally failing to meet expectations. Being honest about expectations and needs from the beginning can help prevent future issues from arising.

Honesty and openness are critical to establishing clear and effective communication for a healthy and productive marriage. Building empathy and vulnerability into a marriage helps establish healthy and effective communication. Seeking professional advice – such as marriage counseling – is a great way to learn how to build effective communication for your relationship. Communication issues must be addressed early on. If they are not promptly addressed, resentments begin to accrue and can lead to a breakdown of the marriage.

Are These Causes Reminding You Of Your Own Relationship? Moskowitz Law Group Is Here To Help.

While the goal of marriage is to last a lifetime, this is not always the reality. Considering a divorce can feel isolating, confusing, and frustrating. You do not need to do it alone.

At Moskowitz Law Group, we are here to help you navigate through the divorce process. We understand that every divorce case is unique and are prepared to provide our best work for every client. You can be confident that our years of experience handling divorce cases of every kind will offer you the best guidance if your marriage ends in divorce.

Divorce requires an understanding of your rights under the law. Having a skilled divorce attorney by your side will significantly increase your ability to protect your rights in a divorce. If you are considering a divorce, contact our firm today to get the support and representation you deserve.