Do people get divorced because of financial issues?

Marriage often involves talking about difficult subjects. Couples may discuss whether they want children, if they will finance for a new home or if they would move for better jobs. These kinds of decisions often have financial implications.

If a couple comes to an impasse about how joint assets are used, it could lead to a divorce. There are many other reasons why a marriage would end because of financial issues.

Here’s what you should know:

3 financial situations that lead to divorce

It’s often not possible to know if a marriage would end because of financial difficulties. Here are a few causes of divorce:

• Financial stability: Some people marry for financial stability. This can make people feel like their marriage is less authentic or that they were tricked into marriage.  
• Unemployment: A household may struggle if one spouse isn’t working. The financial difficulties here could cause large amounts of debt. It could lead to many issues if the unemployed spouse isn’t seeking any work.
• Inheritance or lottery: People who inherit or win a large amount of money may find their spouses want a part of it. There may be difficulties about how the money is spent and who has a right to spend it. 

Every divorce is unique, but people who are aware of why money might lead to a divorce may be better equipped for the future. 

How to protect yourself from a messy divorce

There are measures that people can take to protect themselves from difficult divorces. People can make prenuptial agreements before marriage or postnuptial agreements during marriage that can establish how assets are handled if there’s a divorce. 

It may help to reach out for legal help if you’re looking for proactive ways to protect your assets from a divorce.