The family law attorneys at Rodier Family Law provide four signs that help indicate to couples that it’s time to get a divorce.

The number of reasons that could lead to a couple’s divorce seems limitless. Whether those reasons were sparked by emotions, finances or behaviors, divorce often seems like the obvious solution. However, for some people, coming to the decision that it’s time to divorce is considerably easier said than done.

Confusion can be a huge obstacle for an individual who is toying with the idea of getting a divorce. People find themselves questioning their current state of mind, decision-making skills or personal values. To help ease some of that confusion that might be present, here are four concrete, telltale signs that it’s time for you and your spouse to get a divorce.

1. Your spouse is physically abusing you and/or your children. Many people find themselves in situations where their spouse has physical abused them or their children. This gets tricky because similar acts often get misconstrued with parenting techniques. At first, it may not seem like a deal-breaker, but if it becomes a habit, it’s time to divorce your spouse. Physical abuse is a wrong behavior no matter how severe the treatment may appear. No one ever deserves to get mistreated by his or her spouse, especially children, so removing yourself and your children from the situation is vital.
2. Your spouse maintains habits that harm the welfare of you and/or your children. Safety and health are extremely important in any relationship, no matter what ages are involved. Drug addiction, violent behavior, gambling addiction, etc. all qualify as dangerous habits that could put your family’s safety and health at risk. If those habits come before health and safety, divorce should find its way to the top of your priority list before it’s too late.
3. Your spouse cheats on you. If infidelity becomes a habitual event and counseling did not solve the problem, it may be time to get a divorce. One momentous aspect of marriage is the act of committing yourself to one person – your spouse. Once that is gone, you need to consider moving on.
4. Your partner keeps secrets from you that affect your family. If you discover that your partner has been keeping important information from you, the future of your family’s wellbeing could be at stake. This essential information includes financial, health or other personal issues that require both spouses’ attention and/or action. Trust is a key component in a marriage, so if your spouse feels the need to hide certain information that you should be clued in on, it is time to reevaluate your marital status.

Once confirming the decision to proceed with a divorce, the next step would be to invest in a divorce attorney. When choosing to have legal representation, you can rest easy throughout the process knowing that the difficult decisions will be made logically with your best interest in mind.

For more information about the divorce process or your individual circumstances, please contact the family law attorneys at Rodier Family Law.

The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide about the subject matter. A licensed Maryland attorney should be sought about your specific circumstances.