What are the Best Grounds for Divorce?

What are the Best Grounds for Divorce?

The best grounds for divorce depend upon the divorce laws your state follows and the type of divorce petition you file.

If you choose to file a no-fault divorce petition, you can cite any one of the following issues as a reason for divorce:

  • Irreconcilable differences
  • Incompatibility
  • Irretrievable breakdown of marriage

If you choose to file an at-fault divorce petition, one or more of the following serious marital wrongdoings actually committed by the other spouse make for a strong ground for divorce:

  • Bigamy
  • Infidelity
  • Fraudulently/forcefully getting married
  • Abandoning the spouse without reason
  • Abuse (mental or physical)
  • Addiction to substances
  • Impotence
  • Incurable mental illness
  • Other reasons specified by your state

5 Factors to Consider Before Citing Grounds in a No-Fault or At-Fault Divorce Petition

  1. As of June 2022, just 19 U.S. states are truly no-fault divorce states. In these states, the courts either prohibit or severely restrict your ability to file an at-fault divorce. If the other spouse has committed a serious marital wrongdoing, you may sue him/her for compensation in a separate case, but you cannot use the wrongdoing as a ground for divorce. However, if the marital misconduct has impacted the children, the courts will take it into account while deciding on child custody and either restrict his/her visiting time or deny visiting rights.
  2. The remaining states follow the at-fault divorce rule but they allow spouses to file a no-fault divorce petition. Therefore, you may choose to file an at-fault or no-fault divorce petition in an at-fault divorce state. Most spouses opt for no-fault divorce though. However, when the marital wrongdoing is very serious, some spouses may opt to file an at-fault divorce application so that they can get sole child custody or a bigger share of alimony and marital property, or both.
  3. In a no-fault divorce, it is sufficient to say that the marriage is not working because the spouses are incompatible, or have irreconcilable differences, or that the marriage has broken down irretrievably. The petitioning spouse does not have to allege marital wrongdoing or provide proof of it. The spouse who is served the notice cannot object to the divorce itself, because if he/she does then the objection will be considered an “irreconcilable difference” by the courts. However, as mentioned earlier, in some cases, where the evidence is compelling, the petitioning spouse can sue the other spouse for compensation separately.
  4. In some states that allow no-fault divorce, the spouses are required to live separately for a specified period before filing the divorce petition. Most states do not have this requirement, however.
  5. An at-fault divorce takes longer and is more expensive to resolve than a no-fault divorce, which is quicker, easier, and more affordable. This is because the at-fault divorce petitioner and his family law attorney have to conclusively prove marital wrongdoing (bigamy, infidelity, abandonment, fraud, abuse, addiction, etc.) committed by the other spouse, and proving it involves hiring investigators, expert witnesses, and takes legal time for reading and analyzing the evidence, and more.
Protect Your Money And Your Family

We remove fear associated with divorce, protect your money & maximize time with your kids!

We're here to help. Let's determine your best options.

Call Us 24//7 at 801-685-9999 to Speak with a Live Representative

Utah Divorce FAQs
Top 100 Divorce Blog
What Clients Are Saying…
BrownLaw icon
Excellent
Brown Family Law
Based on 995 reviews
I’ve had the privilege of working with Mr. Schwarz on various projects and would be confident in recommending him for any legal services. As a colleague, he displayed respect, integrity and loyalty to his partners. As a professional, he demonstrated incredible competence, skill and mastery of his field. He cares for his clients and their vision and works tirelessly for them to achieve it. Highly recommend.
Nick Schwarz and I were colleagues and he is extremely thoughtful and cared about clients. He is an excellent attorney and an even better person. He will make an excellent addition to any case.
Fantastic attorney, incredibly knowledgeable and caring. Wonderful attitude with clients. Highly responsive, and acts quickly. Never leaves you hanging.
Dani is the best paralegal I know. Clear communication, professional, and intelligent.
Paul Waldron offers a competent and mindful approach to navigating family law. Thank you Paul for being an asset in our community that we can all depend on.
Truly so grateful for the care and expertise of Brown Family Law. (Specifically Carren and Daniel) I’ve been going through a really difficult time, and having legal support met with such kindness and understanding meant the world to me. They not only provided excellent guidance, but also made me feel seen and supported. I will always refer people here and am so grateful for the compassion I experienced.
I cannot recommend Attorney Nicholas Schwarz highly enough! He is extremely professional, responsive, and truly dedicated to his clients. What sets Nick apart is not only his deep knowledge of the law, but also the genuine care and compassion he shows for his clients. He takes the time to explain everything clearly, answer questions promptly, and make you feel supported throughout the entire process. If you’re looking for someone who will fight for you while keeping your best interests at heart, Nick is your person!
Nick Schwarz is an outstanding attorney who combines sharp legal skills with genuine care for his clients. He is professional, attentive, and deeply committed to helping families through challenging times. I highly recommend him.
Idania is great!! She’s very helpful and attentive
Nick is an exceptional attorney—sharp, reliable, and truly client-focused. He makes complex legal matters easy to understand, responds quickly, and consistently goes the extra mile to deliver results. I highly recommend him to anyone in need of outstanding legal representation.
yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7

Categories