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WHY DO PEOPLE FILE FOR DIVORCE? HERE’S 7 COMMON REASONS

| Jan 11, 2017 | Divorce, FAQ

A few hundred thousand Americans will divorce each year, keeping the country’s divorce rate steady between 40% and 50%. This number seems dramatically high until you start to look at the facts closer and study why people are actually choosing to end their marriages. It should come as no surprise that happy marriages aren’t ending in divorce.

7 reasons Americans file for divorce, in no particular order:

  1. Not committed: One of the top reasons people file for divorce is the persistent feeling of a marriage with someone who isn’t committed to the health of the marriage. About 25% of men and women also admit to not being dedicated themselves.
  2. Fights: It is not unusual for two people to have disagreements, especially when they are in close-quarters. But a marriage’s strength will wilt if the disagreements devolve into arguments or outright fights, especially when no amicable solution is met at the end of them.
  3. Infidelity: Cheating is a surefire way to dissolve the integrity of a marriage. While it might not happen as often as other reasons on this list, when it does, infidelity has a much higher chance of spurring someone into filing for divorce.
  4. Youth: Overall, the young have a lot to learn in love and life. Marrying before 20 increases the chances of divorce dramatically, possibly due to the fact that many people are still discovering and developing their own personalities so young. By the time they change and mature, both spouses might not like one another anymore.
  5. High expectations: Some people have a perfect dream image in their heads of what married life will be like. Since there is no such thing as perfection, finding a couple things that don’t line up with those expectations might be enough to cast serious doubts on the relationship.
  6. One-sidedness: Some people see a marriage as the ultimate teamwork operation – if they want it to succeed, they need to cooperate and split responsibilities. When one spouse feels like they are carrying more than their fair share of the work in a marriage, such as paying bills, cooking dinner, and picking up the kids from school, that perceived one-sidedness can corrode the foundation of their union.
  7. Domestic violence: It is estimated that about 25% of divorces will include some form of domestic violence. Spousal abuse comes in many forms, such as emotional, financial, and psychological, so not all accounts necessarily include physical violence. Regardless, any sort of intentional harm inflicted upon a spouse is unacceptable.

Despite all of these reasons being common, it is important to remember that there are no required grounds for divorce. If you want to end your marriage, any reason, including irreconcilable differences, will be enough to validate it. You can talk to TJC • ESQ and our Rhode Island divorce attorneys if you are thinking you want to file for divorce but don’t know where to begin. We have 30+ years of combined family law experience we can use to manage your case.

Call 401-400-4254 or contact us online today.

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