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Your wedding day is one of the biggest moments in your life. It’s the day on which you tell the world that you and your significant other want to spend the rest of your lives together. But it’s not always the fairytale ending that couples hope it’ll be. And divorce, sadly, is all too common in the UK; the moment when a marriage is over. But how does it get to that point? And who (if anyone) is to blame? Here are some of the common reasons why couples go separate ways. 

Extra-marital affairs

To some, this might be better known as ‘adultery’ – or even ‘cheating’. But it’s one of the most common reasons why married couples part ways. It’s also one of the legal grounds for granting a divorce. It can be tricky too, however. If you discover your partner has been cheating on you, it has to have been within the last six months – and you’ll need proof and an admission.

Unreasonable behaviour

The idea of ‘unreasonable behaviour’ is actually a catch-all term that’s given to several different reasons. And, according to the Office for National Statistics, it’s easily the most common reason why couples get divorced – both in opposite-sex and same-sex marriages.

But what does unreasonable behaviour mean? Well, it can be anything. Divorce solicitors deal with cases where this can mean regular arguments; not sharing childcare; or the lack of intimacy. It can also include serious matters such as physical or emotional abuse.

Ultimately, the law states that it’s anything you can’t reasonably be expected to put up with.

Money worries

Poor financial management is another reason that can be cited as unreasonable behaviour in a divorce case. It’s worthy of its own mention, however, as it can be such a big issue for married couples. After all, there are so many reasons why we’d argue with our spouse about money.

Getting in too deep?

It’s not unheard of for some romances to be so whirlwind that they end up with a proposal in a matter of months or even weeks. It can feel “right” at the time and seem like they’re the “one” – but marriage can come too soon. And, sometimes, it does unfortunately end in divorce.

Long-term separation 

The above reason is a good example of where divorce isn’t necessarily one person’s fault or the other’s. So too is divorcing on the grounds of separation.

If you’ve been separated for two years and both agree in writing, you can be granted a divorce. This is certainly more common than the five years separation period needed if one person won’t agree to a divorce. But that doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen.

No matter the reason for a divorce, it’s never an easy or comfortable decision to take. It marks the end of a big part of anyone’s life. And dealing with what comes next can prove a huge next step to take. But you aren’t alone – regardless of the reasons that your marriage may be over.