What if no one’s specifically to blame for our divorce?

It’s perfectly normal to have conflict in interpersonal relationships. Friends fight, siblings argue and married couples don’t always see eye-to-eye on daily decisions.

If you file for divorce, you might not have a specific reason why you want to end your marriage. There may be multiple ways in which incompatibility dictates you should go your separate ways.

Some things just can’t be fixed

Among other legal grounds for divorce, Tennessee allows couples to file for divorce because of situations like abandonment, maltreatment, imprisonment or adultery. Irreconcilable differences are another permissible reason for marital dissolution. But what exactly does that mean?

Maybe you’ve grown apart and neither one of you are solely at fault for the breakdown of your relationship, which is commonly the case. Factors that contributed to the division between you and your spouse could include any variety of challenges. For instance:

  • Communication barriers
  • Employment that requires prolonged separation
  • Disagreements about financial management
  • Conflicting interests and goals
  • Inability to cooperate on household responsibilities
  • Different political views
  • Personality conflicts
  • Unfavorable influences from the in-laws
  • Lacked sexual intimacy
  • Betrayed trust

Interestingly, your spouse cannot object to your petition for this no-fault divorce because a court could consider the argument part of your irreconcilable differences.

In a divorce based on irreconcilable differences, you don’t have to provide negative evidence against your ex to support your case. You must, however, agree to terms about property division and, if applicable, child support, child custody and a parenting plan.