All relationships have their ups and downs, so what makes a relationship between two people who were once committed enough to each other to get married totally unravel?
Believe it or not, most couples cite one of three reasons for their split. These include:
1. Money issues
Money issues are cited in 22% of divorces, making it the third-leading cause of marital discord. While piles of debt can certainly create a lot of difficulty in a marriage, what usually drives couples apart are vastly different approaches to finances in the first place. If one spouse is a “spender” and lives for the moment while the other spouse is a “saver” who watches every dollar, that can lead to serious conflicts.
2. Infidelity
Infidelity is the second biggest reason that couples end up in divorce court. It’s important to remember that infidelity comes in more than one form. When a spouse has a one-night stand or a long-running affair, that can destroy their marriage – but so can emotional infidelity (such as with a “work spouse” or online friend) and financial infidelity (like keeping secret bank accounts or running up hidden credit cards). In the end, anything that can be considered a breach of trust between the couple can be the death of their relationship.
3. Basic incompatibility
This is – by far – the single most common reason for divorce, cited in 43% of cases. Most of the time, couples don’t start out incompatible (or they’d never marry in the first place). However, time and life experiences tend to have a profound effect on most people. When couples don’t grow in the same direction, they can suddenly find themselves married to a stranger.
Whatever the reason you’re approaching divorce, you’re in good company. You may want to consider reaching out for some legal guidance that’s tailored to your situation and can help you prepare.