People going through a difficult time in their marriages may reach the conclusion that they need to make a major change. Issues involving substance abuse, domestic violence, financial misconduct and adultery can leave people anxious to sever their marital bonds. Maybe they don’t want to share their life with someone who they no longer trust or no longer want to have personal liability for the choices made by their spouses.
Many people feel worried about the prospect of divorce, possibly because they are not familiar with state law. For example, they may worry that they don’t have adequate proof of the issues they face to justify filing for divorce.
What grounds do spouses have to establish to be able to legally divorce in Washington?
Proof of specific issues isn’t necessary
In some states, spouses can only file for divorce after a lengthy separation or when they have a specific reason for ending a marriage. For example, cruelty or domestic violence are common reasons for divorce. The courts in some states also allow people to file for divorce after abandonment, including involuntary abandonment related to institutionalization in a mental health facility or incarceration in prison after a criminal conviction. People need evidence of qualifying circumstances to file for divorce.
In Washington, the spouse filing for divorce does not need proof of any specific form of misconduct. Instead, all they need is reason to claim that they have irreconcilable differences with a spouse and that their marriage has gone through something that has left the relationship irretrievably broken.
It is not typically possible to prove or disprove claims of irreconcilable differences that have caused a breakdown of the marital union. Therefore, no evidence other than the assertion of one spouse is necessary to initiate a divorce filing. People do not have to spend money hiring private investigators or expose all of their most embarrassing family secrets in court to file for divorce or secure a fair outcome.
While no proof of misconduct is necessary to file, people do still typically benefit from preparing carefully before they file for divorce. Learning more about Washington’s unique divorce statutes can help people prepare for a divorce filing. With the right preparation, divorcing spouses may have a somewhat easier time rebuilding their lives after divorce.