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If you are currently facing problems with your spouse, you may have considered filing for a divorce but are unsure whether this is the right option. With assets at stake, here are four scenarios which may signal it is time to file for divorce.
Quiet resentment over power imbalances
When couples get married, one spouse may pause a career to manage the household, raise children, or support the other’s profession. Over time, it causes a power imbalance. The working spouse may gain immense pressure in deciding for the family, feel like they are missing out on their family life, or may feel that they gave a greater say to the other spouse as to how funds are allocated. Conversely, the supportive spouse feels economically vulnerable because of the break from the workforce, and may feel like their sacrifices and efforts are undervalued because there is not a monetary value readily applied to their contributions to the marriage.
This power imbalance may develop into resentment and disappointment towards your partner which creates a rift that can be irreversible if left unchecked.
Poor intimacy due to busy careers
In the circumstance where you and your spouse choose to have a double-income household, the focus on growing your careers, while each spouse balancing how to manage the household or raise children, the marriage eventually fractures due to a lack of emotional intimacy. Spouses may feel like they don’t have the time or energy to also focus on the relationship. This can result in feelings of loneliness, lack of understanding, rejection, or a dynamic that turns a romantic relationship into a functional partnership.
Job loss or unexplained changes in compensation
If a spouse loses employment, refuses to obtain employment, or suddenly takes a pay cut, this can create financial hardship, mistrust, and resentment. It is understood that job loss may occur at no fault of a spouse. This can create a greater burden on a family’s budget, especially in the case of prolonged unemployment. If spouses are not on the same page regarding how quickly to find new employment, this may lead spouses to consider divorce. This is especially true when the spouses may also struggle with communication or already be living outside of their means. This may feel like a bad time to file for a divorce because of the additional financial impact. However, filing a divorce when a spouse refuses to find employment may help protect the working spouse.
Infidelity and financial secrecy
Due to the lack of intimacy in the marriage, your spouse may have chosen to look outside the marriage for emotional support, or infidelity. Commonly, spouses consider the possibility of remaining married, couples counseling, or divorce. Divorce can help protect marital assets if one spouse has become secretive about assets or debts, income, or is spending marital funds on non-marital interests. This is often the concern in situations with infidelity, which can lead to marital waste when funding expenses on someone outside the marriage. Additionally, secrecy leads to mistrust and concerns about a spouse hiding accounts, liquidating assets, or wracking up debt as a strategy when divorce feels likely to occur.
Protect yourself by acting promptly
If you experience any of these signs, it is wise to act early. Seeking legal counsel can help you gain insights into protecting yourself, and your financial wellbeing in the divorce process. With the assistance of seasoned counsel, you can also identify hidden assets and secure evidence to support your legal interests in a divorce.
