Every marriage starts out with high hopes and an eye to a forever future, but only about half actually make it to happily ever after. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention tracks divorce and marital disruption in the same way that they do diseases, and found that by the time couples reach the 5-year anniversary of their wedding, more than one in five have either separated, divorced, or ended as a result of a partner’s death. By 20 years more than half have ended, and when surveyed those that have divorced cite remarkably similar issues as the cause of their splits.

We’re all unique, but when our relationships are struggling there’s a good chance that we’re going through the same issues as most other couple. If you’re experiencing any of the challenges listed below it does not necessarily mean that your marriage has to end, but according to experts they are among the most commonly cited reasons for couples to divorce.

• Infidelity – Cheating is an all-too-common occurrence, and though some are able to move past the pain, for others forgiveness is simply impossible, and this is true for both in-the-flesh dalliances and those that are referred to as “emotional affairs” occurring via social media.
• Economic arguments – When a couple points to money as the cause of their divorce it is less about how much they have or don’t have then about how the money is spent. Couples who cannot come to terms with their finances find that those arguments permeate the rest of their relationship.
• Addiction – There’s no doubt that alcohol and drug abuse can create pain and disappointment in a relationship, but those are not the only addictions that can end to a marriage. People point to their partner’s addictions of all kinds, including sex, shopping, and even being too consumed by work, as a reason to leave.
• Traumatic situations – It is sad but true that when couples go through an extraordinary incident together it can become such a looming memory or pain point that they become reminders to each other of their loss and it is too much for them to survive together. In some cases this is the death of a child or an economic trauma, but other times it is one partner’s illness or injury that is too much for the other spouse to face or support. These issues can strengthen the team’s devotion to one another, but it can also do the exact opposite.
• Incompatibility – The love and adoration that couples feel for each other when they first meet can blind them to potential pitfalls that become more apparent over time. Typical points of incompatibility have to do with religion or geographic preferences for where each wants to live but can also be as seemingly minor as one being a homebody while the other prefers nightlife.

If you are encountering any of these issues and feel that they are irreconcilable, it may be time to consider divorce. To explore your options with an experienced divorce attorney, contact our office today to set up an appointment.