So you want a divorce. It probably took a great deal to get to this point and it likely wasn’t an easy choice. Now that you’re here, a question often comes up: Can my spouse prevent a divorce?
This is the stuff of TV and movies, right? Lifetime practically made a cottage industry out of this type of story. One spouse wants a divorce, but the other won’t grant it, whatever will they do?
This is exactly the situation one Mississippi woman, Elizabeth Freels, found herself in. According to USA Today, she tried to divorce her husband starting in 2001.
In true movie villain fashion, her husband said, “I will not give you a divorce until the day you die. If I can’t have you, no one else will.” Maybe he also twisted his mustache or tented his fingers at the same time.
Though she moved out with her kids and filed for divorce in 2005, Freels remained married.
Here’s the good news for the rest of us, and, ultimately, for Freels. In most states, this can’t happen. To one degree or another, every state in the union (and the District of Columbia), including California, practices no-fault divorce.
What Is No-Fault Divorce?
What this means is that as long as one spouse wants a divorce, the state will grant it. In short, your spouse can’t prevent a divorce in most of the United States.
Essentially, in no-fault divorce states, as long as the person who files for divorce is legally married, meets the residency requirements, and correctly follows the procedure, divorce will be yours.
You don’t have to prove that either party is at fault or provide any grounds. All the court requires is for one spouse to declare a marriage irretrievably broken and that there’s no hope of reconciliation.
From a practical standpoint, no-fault divorce streamlines the process of dissolving a marriage. As there’s no need to assign blame, there’s also no need to wallow in the muck and engage in mudslinging or relive painful memories you’d rather forget.
Ideally, it helps speed things up and get everyone on the path to their new lives that much faster. And your soon-to-be-ex can no longer prevent a divorce.
Related Reading: How Can Adultery Affect A No-Fault Divorce?
No-Fault Divorce And Divorce Settlements
No-fault divorce doesn’t take wrongdoing into account in regards to ending a marriage. That said, that doesn’t mean it won’t impact the process at all.
It may factor into the divorce settlement and impact areas like child custody, spousal support, the division of property. Then again, it may not. All of this depends on the specific case.
Unless it drastically affects circumstances, fault doesn’t usually figure into divorce settlements.
Take adultery for example. Cheating kills a lot of marriages. However, unless infidelity negatively affected your finances—perhaps your spouse drained joint accounts buying elaborate gifts—it probably won’t influence the division of property.
The same goes for child custody. If an affair negatively impacts parenting ability or demonstrates a lack of responsibility, it may play a part. If not, it likely won’t.
The court bases settlement decisions on considerations like financial need, future job prospects, and the length of the marriage. And as far as custody goes, stability, relationships, and the best interests of the child carry the most weight.
Related Reading: How Is Debt Divided in Divorce?
Pro No-Fault Divorce Arguments
Those in favor of no-fault divorce often cite statistics on rates of both suicide and domestic violence. Both decreased in states that implemented this practice. Proponents also note a slight decline in total divorce numbers.
Also, it’s baffling to some that the law would compel people to stay married against their will. The logic is that outside parties, people with no vested interest in a marriage, shouldn’t be allowed to determine whether or not a person’s reasons for wanting a divorce are legitimate or not.
Anti No-Fault Divorce Arguments
A prominent argument against no-fault divorce is that the person who is actually at fault may do the filing for divorce.
For example, a cheating spouse or a domestic abuser can get a divorce without facing any consequences. In these cases, a judge may never hear the reasons behind the breakup awarding spousal support and during the division of property.
Another stance claims that by making divorce easier to obtain, it decreases the importance of marriage. If a divorce is quick and simple, according to this point of view, it lessens the weight of the social contract and makes the bond of matrimony less significant.
Related Reading: What is in a Divorce Decree?
So, Can Your Spouse Prevent a Divorce?
As said, the short answer is no, your spouse can’t prevent a divorce. It is, as is so often the case in family law, not always so black and white.
Due to Mississippi’s laws, which make no-fault divorce more difficult to obtain than in other places, Freels ultimately had to leave the state in order to finally end her marriage. But she was able to get the divorce she so desperately needed. (The legal battle over this area continues to rage in Mississippi.)
Marriages end for many reasons. Abuse, infidelity, and money problems are just a few common causes, but the list of motives is practically endless. Sometimes people just grow in different directions. There’s not always a reason or a need to cast blame.
No-fault statutes streamline the process and mean your spouse can’t prevent a divorce if you need one. This allows for a way out of marriages that are harmful or just don’t work.
Related Reading: How To File For Divorce in CA
Related Reading: Why Does Divorce Take So Long in California?