You may have experienced a perfect wedding day and planned to spend the rest of your life with your spouse. However, many marriages experience difficulties that make it feel impossible to continue, and divorce becomes the best outcome for one or both of you. Michigan couples deciding on a divorce should not feel alone, as the state continues to produce one of the highest rates of divorce in the entire country.
Residency requirements
If you plan to file for a dissolution of marriage in Michigan, you must qualify for the residency requirements. You must have lived in Michigan for at least 180 days prior to filing the petition, and you must reside in a county for at least 10 days before filing in that county.
Common causes of divorce
Although every divorce seems personal, a few common causes regularly contribute to the decision to end a marriage. These reasons include:
- Physical or emotional abuse
- Substance abuse
- Infidelity
- Financial problems
- Breakdown in communication
- Loss of physical attraction
- Loss of intimacy
- Not feeling equal in the marriage
No-fault divorce
Michigan operates under a no-fault divorce like all other states. In a no-fault divorce, neither you nor your spouse need to prove that anyone’s actions caused it.
Although fault does not need to be established in order to get a divorce, being able to prove that your spouse did something wrong may affect other aspects of the process, such as child custody and visitation where one of the parents has a substance abuse problem or has committed domestic violence.
Unique divorce situations
Many factors in your marriage may affect your divorce. Some may require going to court, while others may find resolution through mediation or negotiations.