Maybe it’s been a slow, but sure, fallout between you and your spouse. Or, you don’t look at each other the same any more. For some, it’s a more serious issue like hurtful infidelity that therapy couldn’t help fix.
But when are you sure you should call it quits and get a divorce? The law firm of Petrelli Previtera, LLC has helped thousands of people in your situation decide when it’s time to get a divorce. Once you’ve decided, we help you go your separate ways the most convenient way for you.
The Most Telling Signs that It’s Time to Get a Divorce
Here are ten signs that you should get a divorce:
1. You’ve Been Thinking about Divorce or Separation
Happy couples don’t think about divorce. So when these thoughts creep up on you and stay with you, there’s a high likelihood that you’ve checked out of the relationship and don’t see a future with your spouse.
2. Abuse
Marital abuse experts say minor incidents of abuse often escalate, putting your safety in danger. Cases of violence increase the threat of injury and homicide. If you’ve been abused, you have reasonable grounds to file for a divorce.
3. Infidelity
Infidelity breaks trust and leads to a slew of very hurtful emotions. It’s even worse if your spouse is unapologetic or willing to address the issues that led to the affair. Also, broken trust is hard to rebuild and may demand more than you’re ready to give.
4. Lack of Interest in Staying Together
People grow apart for different reasons. It could be a job that takes all your time, too many unmet expectations, or an apparent indifference from one spouse. These aspects eat away at the commitment to stay married –and often lead to a cold, unfulfilling union.
5. Lack of Intimacy
The exchange of bids to connect -for example, an expression of concern, a touch, and other gestures- keeps emotional intimacy intact. The rule is to keep responding and reciprocating to remain connected.
A breakdown in reciprocating can produce feelings of neglect, loneliness and emotional disconnection. In severe cases, communication breaks down, and physical intimacy may stop. With physical intimacy off, partners start acting more like roommates, increasing the likelihood of marriage failure.
6. Fewer References to ‘We’ and More to ‘I’
The pronoun ‘we’ proves that a couple views themselves as a unit. Often, saying ‘I’ shows a detachment from the other party. It becomes a clear sign that the marriage is failing when the use of ‘we’ rarely comes up.
7. A Lack of Agreement on Vital Issues
When conversations around important topics such as finances and children are made of hardlined, unyielding stances from one another, people inevitably start looking for ways to have their way. That self-seeking approach may draw a couple further apart, leading to divorce. In this case, it’s also more common to hear ‘I’ and ‘you’ statements thrown around.
8. Dead or Dying Communication
You may not be talking as much as you used to, or when you talk, it causes fights that run for days coupled with passive aggression. Poor communication also shows up in the form of indifference in talking about the things that matter, being dismissed, or ignored.
What follows is the impression that you don’t matter. The relationship often heads downhill from there unless a couple does extensive work to repair it.
9. You’ve Tried to Fix it Over and Over Again
The natural response to marital conflict is to try to solve it. You can get counseling, try mediation and live separately while trying to reach an amicable solution.
If you feel you’ve done everything possible but still have little to show for your marriage, it may be time for a divorce.
10. You’re Staying for the Kids
Staying in a marriage for someone else is being unkind to yourself. In any case, experts say children do better with happy, separated parents than parents who live together but fight constantly.
Common FAQs about Getting a Divorce
Do I Need a Lawyer to Get a Divorce in Maryland?
Should you choose to get divorced, you’ll have to pursue it legally. It’s not mandatory to have a lawyer to get a divorce. However, divorce is rarely easy –there is a lot to consider, including the sharing of marital property and custodial rights when children are involved.
If you plan to represent yourself, find legal advice at your local family court help center. The lawyers in these centers help you understand what you’re about to get into and the dos and don’ts.
Can I Get a Legal Separation?
No. Maryland doesn’t have the legal separation option. However, you can live apart without interruption for six months and use it as grounds for divorce.
What Legal Grounds Do I Need to File for Divorce?
Maryland updated its requirement for divorce in October 2023 and settled on three legally viable reasons to get an absolute divorce:
- An uninterrupted six-month separation
- Irreconcilable differences. If you or your partner believe you have issues that can’t be reconciled, you can file for divorce.
- Mutual consent. You and your partner can decide to get divorced and sign the legal paperwork that details the terms of your divorce.
Out of these three options, mutual consent is the least demanding and takes the shortest time.
Filing for Divorce? Get the Best Legal Help in Town
We get that deciding to get divorced is hard. Let us do the rest of the heavy lifting so you can start living a happier life. Here’s how we make it easy for you.
- Schedule a same-day consultation. We’re available online and on the phone to speak to you, hear you out, and begin charting a way forward.
- Get the best experts working on your case. We believe in results and assign the best-fit team for your case.
- Open, Reliable communication. You never have to wonder or miss a thing. Our communication lines stay open so you can ask questions along the journey.
At Petrelli Previtera, LLC, our forte is family law. We’ve seen the toughest and easiest of divorce cases come through our doors and still give the client something to celebrate when it is all over. Reach out to us on (866) 465-5395 and we’ll be more than happy to help.