If you’re considering getting divorced in Pennsylvania, you may be surprised to learn that money problems are not the primary reason for splitting up with your spouse. There are often many other issues that contribute to marital breakdown.
Top reasons for seeking divorce
Although many couples have an amenable split and file for a no-fault divorce, that still doesn’t mean the union didn’t have some friction. Commonly cited reasons for divorce include:
- Careers
- Parenting differences
- Household labor division
- Relationships with family or friends
- Finances
- Health choices
Almost half of the 690,000 couples surveyed in a report published by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) indicated that career choices were primarily responsible for their split. Division of household labor is a secondary reason. Other studies have also confirmed that women with children had less sexual desire if their husbands did not take a significant portion of household chores. Almost two-thirds of respondents indicated that they wished they had a better understanding of commitment and their spouse’s morals and values before their marriage. Those metrics are significant, as only 5% of couples indicated their marriages couldn’t be saved.
Is divorce inevitable?
For couples with significant conflicts, divorce may be the best solution. Yet for others, many family law experts may suggest alternatives, including couples counseling and other mediation efforts to attempt to resolve their disputes. If you think counseling makes a difference, it’s worth a try. However, you should remain aware that many resolution efforts fail.
Those who can’t resolve their differences can still pursue a no-fault divorce in Pennsylvania. If you have no contested issues with your spouse, a no-fault divorce can be finalized shortly after the 90-day waiting period. This timeline makes no-fault much less expensive than at-fault litigation. No-fault divorce proceedings also minimize the emotional issues that occur with your split. Attempting to reconcile your differences without court intervention is an excellent option when you don’t have problems that require long-term discussions and litigation.