Divorce Should be a Last Resort, but Can Be Relatively Painless
Whenever two people share a life, there are bound to be difficulties. These difficulties can add up and put such a strain on the relationship that it just can't survive. Sometimes, an event occurs which makes it necessary for a marriage to end. There are many reasons for divorce, and none of them are easy to cope with.
If you find yourself in a marriage that feels like it is over, the first thing you should do is take an honest look at all sides of the relationship. Have there been events or discussions that may have caused a rift between you and your spouse? Are there steps that you can take to reverse the damage, such as marriage counseling?
Due to the emotional, legal, and practical issues involved, divorce should be a last resort. If there is any way to heal your marriage problems and get the relationship back to a happy place, then in the long run this is healthier for everyone involved.
You Have Options
We all know that this isn't always possible, though, so divorce is an option for those relationships that are beyond saving for whatever reason. There are many types of divorce in the United States, and the type that you will experience depends on your situation and your state.
An at-fault divorce requires one spouse to prove that the other is legally responsible for the end of the marriage. The reasons usually referred to are adultery, involuntary imprisonment, desertion, or insanity. The spouse being accused must present a valid defense if they wish to refute the accusations. Almost every state now allows no-fault divorces, so spouses are no longer required to prove that they were mistreated in any way.
A no-fault divorce usually results from a simple lack of compatibility, sometimes called irreconcilable differences. In this type of divorce, one spouse petitions the court and is not required to show fault on the other spouse's part. The dissolution of the marriage can be achieved in this way even if one spouse does not want to end the marriage.
A collaborative divorce is a method of dissolving a marriage which is gaining a lot of popularity in the United States as divorce becomes more common and culturally accepted. In this type of dissolution of marriage, both parties work together, sometimes with the help of a divorce coach. They decide on the terms of their own divorce without having to endure a lengthy and costly court battle.
