When considering divorce, you do want to keep in mind that every situation is unique. You may know 10 people who have gotten divorced already, and your reasons for doing so may be different than those cited by all 10 of them. You also have unique assets, debts, child custody concerns, and all the rest. Do not assume your divorce will be just like anyone else’s divorce and avoid taking advice from someone, no matter how well-meaning they are in giving it to you, who has a different set of circumstances.
That said, you can track some of the main reasons for divorce and consider what they are going to mean for individuals involved in these cases. A few of the most common reasons include:
- Infidelity
- Lack of commitment
- Arguing
- General relationship conflict
- Domestic violence
- Substance abuse
In the study that found those reasons, it is interesting to note that the majority of people put the blame on their former spouse, rather than themselves. For instance, they claimed their spouse was not committed to the relationship, without saying that they shared that lack of commitment. Many also noted that they ran into a “final straw” situation, suggesting that they were already unhappy with the marriage and then one single event — like finding out about an affair — caused them to take the next step and file for divorce.
If you are thinking about divorce yourself, be sure you know what options you have. Even if you file for some of the reasons listed above, remember that your case is unique.
