8 Bad Reasons to Get Divorced

April 15th, 2024 by Tiffany Hughes

Divorce has become an increasingly common solution to marital problems today. While there are certainly situations where divorce may be the best option for all parties involved, there are bad reasons to get divorced. That’s why it’s essential to consider the potential consequences and alternatives before making such a life-altering decision.

Although our Family Law Firm assists with countless divorces, our attorneys always ask if our clients are certain they’re willing to go through with the divorce, as this is a serious decision.

If you’re contemplating divorce, but are still on the fence, below are eight bad reasons to get divorced, and why you might want  to try to work things out.

1. Constant Fighting:

Persistent conflicts can make a marriage feel unbearable, but they don’t have to be a death sentence for the relationship. Seeking counseling or therapy to learn healthy communication techniques and conflict resolution skills can transform destructive patterns into opportunities for growth and understanding. Sometimes in marriages, there is a season of constant fighting. This doesn’t mean it will last forever, but it does need conscious effort to change and rewrite the narrative or bad habits.

2. Issues with Communicating:

Effective communication is the cornerstone of any successful relationship, and when it falters, misunderstandings and resentment can flourish. Investing time and effort into improving communication and developing healthy communication techniques through couples therapy or workshops can help bridge the gap and foster deeper connection and empathy.

3. Feeling Like You Don’t Connect or Understand One Another Anymore:

Over time, couples may drift apart, leading to feelings of loneliness and alienation. However, rekindling connection is possible through shared experiences, quality time together, and open, honest conversations about hopes, fears, and dreams. If you are feeling like you’re not understood by your spouse or you don’t connect, chances are, they feel the same way. Knowing that your spouse is in the same boat can allow for awareness and change.

4. You Don’t Have the Same Interests Anymore:

It’s natural for individuals to evolve and develop new interests over time, but that doesn’t mean they can’t find common ground with their partner. Exploring each other’s hobbies and passions, as well as discovering new activities to enjoy together, can reignite the spark and create shared experiences. Sometimes, finding a common ground takes a compromise to delve into your spouse’s interests to spend more time with them and have common experiences.

5.  Only Together for Your Kids:

Divorce with children is scary for parents and kids and some couples try to stay together solely for the sake of children. This may seem noble, but it’s essential to consider the quality of the relationship and its impact on family dynamics. Working on the marriage, even for the benefit of the children, can model resilience, commitment, and healthy communication techniques and conflict resolution skills for future generations. Your spouse may just seem like a co-parent to you, but recognizing their desirable attributes as a mother or a father may help you appreciate them in a new way and develop mutual respect and admiration that may be missing in your relationship.

6. You Are Craving and Needing More Personal Space and Freedom:

Feeling suffocated or constrained in a marriage can be distressing, but it doesn’t necessarily mean divorce is the only option. Negotiating boundaries, pursuing individual interests, and finding ways to balance independence with togetherness can revitalize the relationship. While being married means you are a unit with your spouse, you first were an individual. Developing boundaries, exploring your interests as an individual and finding time for yourself can benefit your family dynamics by making you a better partner and parent.

7. Your Relationship Lacks Intimacy:

Physical and emotional intimacy are vital components of a fulfilling marriage, but they can wane over time due to stress, exhaustion, or unresolved issues. Prioritizing physical and emotional intimacy through regular date nights, affectionate gestures, and honest communication can reignite passion and strengthen the bond between partners. However, sometimes the lack of physical and emotional intimacy is a symptom of something bigger. Discussing these issues with a trusted couples therapist may reveal deeper issues to discuss and work out. Once these issues begin to be ironed-out, a deeper intimacy, both physical and emotional intimacy can be developed.

8. Differences in Parenting Styles:

Parenting disagreements can strain a marriage, but they don’t have to be insurmountable obstacles. Finding common ground, setting clear expectations, developing healthy co-parenting techniques, and seeking guidance from parenting experts or counselors can help couples navigate differences and create a unified approach to raising children.

While the challenges of marriage can sometimes feel overwhelming, it’s essential to remember that many issues can be overcome with commitment, communication, and a willingness to seek help when needed. By addressing underlying issues and actively working to strengthen the relationship, couples can rediscover the joy, connection, and fulfillment that brought them together in the first place. Of course, this is a very personal decision and can only be decided by you. If you are certain you want a divorce, then speaking with a family law attorney at The Law Office of Tiffany Hughes can help you.

Need More Information or Representation?

If you are certain you would like to get a divorce, give The Law Office of Tiffany M. Hughes, P.C. a call today at 773-893-0228 for a confidential, complimentary 30-minute phone consultation or email Tiffany Hughes directly at Tiffanyhughes@thugheslaw.com. Our entire practice is solely dedicated to the area of family law. We are highly experienced in providing legal representation to anyone getting a divorce with children or without children, assisting in communication between spouses, developing healthy communication techniques, establishing boundaries with your spouse in a divorce, conflict resolution in divorce proceedings, navigating family dynamics, encouraging emotional intimacy with your co-parent while still protecting yourself, developing a co-parenting schedule, and finding common ground while allocating parental responsibilities or dividing assets.

About Tiffany M. Hughes, Divorce Attorney, Principal, Managing Partner, The Law Office of Tiffany M. Hughes, P.C.:

Tiffany M. Hughes is a divorce attorney and Managing Partner of The Law office of Tiffany M. Hughes. Recognized as a Top 100 Lawyer in Lawyers Magazine in 2018 and 2019, Super Lawyer from 2016 to date, and in addition to numerous other accolades, Ms. Hughes represents individuals in all aspects of family and matrimonial law proceedings, including litigation, mediation, allocation of parental responsibility (formerly known as custody), parentage, divorce and other child-related matters.

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This blog is made available by The Law Office of Tiffany M. Hughes, P.C. for educational purposes only as well as to give you general information and a general understanding of Illinois law, not to provide specific legal advice. By using this website you understand that there is no attorney client relationship between you and The Law Office of Tiffany M. Hughes, P.C. The website should not be used as a substitute for competent legal advice from a licensed professional attorney in Illinois.  The law changes constantly and we do not go back in time to edit old posts that may be affected by these changes.  If you have any questions about Illinois law, which is the only State this blog and website discusses, please call The Law Office of Tiffany M. Hughes, P.C. for a complimentary phone consultation and do not draw any legal conclusions without speaking to a competent attorney in Illinois first

8 Bad Reasons to Get Divorced