What is the Most Common Reason for Divorce?

What is the Most Common Reason for Divorce?

By: Gordon & Perlut, LLC

Going through a divorce is one of the most stressful experiences. Our experienced divorce lawyer in Skokie and Chicago is here to help you through the process. Find out some of the most common reasons for getting a divorce in cases we represent.

Do You Have Grounds For a Divorce In Illinois?

In the past, the Illinois divorce Statutes listed specific fault grounds for divorce. While these were abolished in favor of ‘no-fault’ divorce in 2016, many of them remain common reasons for divorce today. Among those most frequently cited by clients include:

• Adultery: This remains one of the most common reasons for getting a divorce in Skokie, Chicago, and the Illinois region. While you may attempt to forgive a spouse who has had an affair, recovering in the aftermath and regaining trust often proves impossible. While you are not required to list this as a fault ground in your divorce proceedings, it is important to let your attorney know that a spouse committed adultery, as it could impact your rights.
• Alcohol or drug abuse: Having a spouse with a drug or alcohol addiction often proves to be a nightmare. As much as you might want to help, there may come a point where divorce is your only option. Again, discuss this with our divorce lawyer, as your spouse may have depleted assets in the course of fueling their addiction.
• Domestic abuse: Physical violence, emotional abuse, threats, and destruction of property should never be tolerated and are all valid reasons to seek a divorce. To protect your safety, one of the first steps we can take is to put a restraining order in place.
• Felony conviction: While this is no longer grounds for divorce in Illinois, criminal activity and problems with the law can wreak havoc in your family, destroying your reputation in the community and ruining any chance for financial stability.

Other Common Reasons For Divorce In Illinois

Other former fault grounds for divorce in Illinois include abandonment, impotence, mental illness, and infecting a spouse with a sexually transmitted disease. In lieu of these or any of the above, divorces in our state are now granted on the basis of irreconcilable differences. This means that issues between the two of you are divisive, ongoing, and generally beyond repair.

According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), these are some of the most common reasons for getting a divorce. Ways in which irreconcilable differences may play out in your marriage include:

• Ongoing disagreements about money and lifestyles.
• Different parenting styles and views regarding how to raise children.
• Growing apart over the years, a common problem among older couples in long-term marriages.
• Basic incompatibility, which may have been present since you first wed.

Reach Out To Our Divorce Lawyer In Skokie and Chicago

Deciding to get a divorce is never easy. At Gordon & Perlut, LLC., we provide the caring support and trusted legal guidance you need. To request a confidential consultation regarding your rights in divorce and your reasons for filing, reach out and contact our divorce lawyer in Chicago today.