No matter how long you’ve been married or whether it’s your first marriage or not, like most Ohio couples, you’re at risk for divorce. There’s simply no guarantee that when you tie the knot, it’s going to stay tied for a lifetime. Numerous issues can prompt serious marital problems and current data suggests such issues lead to divorce in as many as 40 percent of first marriages and 60 percent for those who have married a second time.
There are often signs that a relationship is moving in a negative direction. In fact, many of these issues often wind up being key factors in the legal aspects of a divorce. If you recognize one or more red flags in your marriage that cause you to think you are headed for divorce, it’s always a good idea to research the process ahead of time, so that if it happens, you know how to protect your rights and your children’s best interests.
Signs that a marriage is disintegrating
Perfect relationships where couples never experience financial, medical or relationship problems don’t exist. Life changes often and most married couples understand that they will encounter challenges in their relationship through the years; however, many determine that some problems make their marriages unsustainable. The following list shows key issues many divorced couples cite as causal factors in their break-ups:
- Lack of respect: Whether your respect for your spouse has dwindled because of problem issues in your marriage or you feel that your spouse has no respect for you, when one or both spouses lose respect, a marriage truly suffers.
- Resentment or contempt: Many spouses say that a lack of respect often leads to feeling of resentment or contempt. This also sometimes occurs when a cataclysmic event occurs, such as an extramarital affair, when a spouse can’t move past the fact that his or her partner cheated.
- Substance abuse or other addictions: It’s understandable that a spouse would feel betrayed or as though there is no hope for a relationship when the other person involved refuses to seek help for an addiction, whether it is related to alcohol, drugs, pornography or some other issue.
If these or other problem issues have led to your decision to divorce, you’ll want to build a strong support network around yourself and your children, especially if this is the first time you will have navigated the family justice system. Some of the issues mentioned earlier sometimes work their way into the courtroom, such as if you face a custody fight and need to show evidence that your spouse’s addiction is a detriment to your children’s well-being.
Have a plan in mind
Many Ohio spouses find it quite helpful to discuss their situations in a confidential setting with someone who understands the ins and outs of child custody and other aspects related to divorce. Seeking guidance from an experienced family law attorney, for instance, can provide information and support to build as strong a case as possible.
