Studies show that the divorce rate is slowly dropping. In times past, roughly half of all marriages ended in divorce. Now, only about 39% of married couples end up separated.
However, this is still a rather large percentage of people. If you think you’re seeing the telltale signs that you and your spouse need a divorce, you’re probably not wrong. It could be because you got married too quickly or because you grew apart over the years.
Regardless, you should hire a divorce lawyer to help you figure things out. Legal separations can be messy, chaotic, and even hostile. This is especially true if you’ve been married for a long time, have children together, or share a number of financial assets.
But are you sure you need to change your marital status? Keep reading for the most common signs that point to yes.
A Complete Breakdown of Communication
There is nothing more important in a relationship than communication. Whether it’s the relationship between a boss and their employees, a relationship between friends, or a romantic relationship. Clear, open communication is essential for a thriving relationship.
Therefore, when couples stop being able to communicate with one another in a healthy manner, things can get turbulent. Unhealthy signs of communication include:
- Constant arguing
- Arguments that devolve into screaming and yelling
- Being closed-off
- Keeping secrets
- Holding back feelings and emotions
- Passive-aggressiveness
- Etc.
While communication can often be restored through counseling, dedication, and hard work, it won’t be easy. If you and your spouse are past the point of no return, it’s probably a sign that you need to hire a divorce lawyer.
Irreconcilable Differences
As noted earlier, couples often get married too quickly. They don’t have enough time to get to know their partner on a fundamental level before tying the knot. As the marriage goes on, they learn that they may not be as intimately connected or as in love as they thought.
Alternatively, you could fall in love with your spouse and make a well-thought-out decision, but they change over time. Or maybe you change over time. It’s quite common for couples to grow apart.
Regardless of the scenario, you and your spouse may have irreconcilable differences. If you can’t find a way to accept your differences or find an agreeable compromise, you might need to start looking for a divorce attorney. These differences could be over lifestyle choices, parenting methods, retirement plans, finances, religion, politics, etc.
Broken Trust
One of the most common reasons people hire a divorce lawyer is because of infidelity in the marriage. When trust is broken, it can be difficult to look at your partner the same way. It can take years for the unfaithful partner to regain trust and allow things to return to normal.
However, the spouse who was cheated on may not have the capacity for forgiveness. They may not be able to trust the disloyal partner again.
Alternatively, the unfaithful partner may not be willing to spend the time, energy, and effort regaining trust. Perhaps they felt justified in their infidelity due to other problems in the marriage.
If you and your spouse are looking at divorce due to infidelity, visit https://familyatty.com/divorce/ to find a divorce attorney to help you in the process.
Verbal, Mental, or Physical Abuse
Sadly, some arguments and fights escalate into abuse. The husband or wife may not be able to control their anger and lash out physically, causing harm to their spouse. There is no scenario in which this is acceptable.
However, abuse can come in many forms. There is also verbal abuse and mental abuse. If you feel like you’re are being mentally or verbally abused, hire a divorce lawyer to get out of your unhealthy marriage, you deserve better.
And if you’re fearing violence, talk to an attorney immediately to find out what you should do to stay safe during the separation. This is even more important if you have children who might be at risk.
Indifference or Neglect
Sometimes, as married couples grow apart, they don’t fight, argue, or yell at one another. There’s not physical abuse or visible conflict. However, that doesn’t mean everything is okay.
In some cases, people become indifferent to their partners. They stop asking them about their day, spending time with them, or tending to their needs. If both partners are doing this, it’s a clear-cut sign that the marriage is ending.
However, if one partner is still invested, indifference from their spouse can make them feel neglected. Sadly, if the other person has given up on the marriage, this may not make a difference.
Hostile or Uncooperative Separation
One of the most prevalent signs that you need to hire a divorce lawyer is if you’re pursuing a divorce and your spouse is hostile or uncooperative. They may be refusing to sign the divorce papers or acting vindictively. This includes everything from destroying property to threatening to take your kids away.
In this case, you must hire someone who is an expert in divorce law. You need to know your rights. Just as importantly, you need to have someone on your team defending those rights.
Divorce Complications
Finally, changes in marital status are not always straightforward. Wanting to get divorced is simple enough, but the process can be incredibly complicated. For example, if you’ve spent several years building a life together with your spouse, untangling that life won’t be easy.
Even if a divorce is relatively amicable, you need to hire a divorce lawyer if:
- You have children together who are under 18
- You have a house together
- You share a business
- You share a trust fund
- You have valuable shared assets and possessions
- self-employed divorce tips
- Etc.
Both partners need to be treated fairly in the divorce. These can be murky waters to navigate, which is why it’s always a good idea to have legal assistance.
Do You Need to Hire a Divorce Lawyer?
We don’t have to tell you that divorces and legal separations are unpleasant. Even if everything is amicable and you and your spouse remain on good terms, the process of dividing assets and figuring out parenting plans can be tedious. Hire a divorce lawyer to uncomplicate the process as much as possible.
And if you’re looking for more lifestyle, relationship, or legal tips, stick around for a while and read through some of our other articles. Our blog was created to help readers like you find solutions to all of life’s problems.
