Is your marriage headed straight toward divorce court?

Every year across the state of Texas, individuals who thought they were marrying someone they would be with for the rest of their lives find themselves stuck in divorce court. People change as they grow, and life circumstances can exert extreme pressure on once stable and happy relationships.

It is admirable and beautiful to want to fight to save your marriage, provided that it is possible to save it. Some couples may find that executing a postnuptial agreement can help them overcome issues and refocus their marriage on the things that matter the most.

However, there are circumstances in which it may be impossible to save your marriage regardless of what you do. Familiarizing yourself with some of the most common and problematic issues in a marriage can help you honestly evaluate your own potential for a future divorce.

You and your spouse openly resent one another

Every couple goes through rough patches. People fight or begin to annoy one another. However, these periods shouldn’t dominate your relationship. If you find yourself struggling daily because your spouse irritates you or because you can’t seem to talk without fighting, that may be a warning sign that your marriage has devolved into something unhealthy and unsustainable.

Addiction or infidelity, when unaddressed, often mean the end

When you get married, you promise to stay with your spouse in good times and in bad. That can mean standing by them while they deal with addiction. Whether your spouse struggles with too much alcohol or compulsive gambling, you may want to help them overcome their addiction.

Similarly, many people find themselves re-evaluating their marriage after infidelity on the part of their spouse. A single instance of cheating could be a sign that you need to work on your relationship. Repeated infidelity may be an indicator that your spouse is not as committed as you are.

Your spouse has to want to get better in order for your efforts to have any consequence. If your spouse simply makes promises without following through and continues to behave in the same manner, it may be time to consider whether leaving is best for everyone involved.

Your spouse abuses you or your children

Even the kindest person can lose their temper and do something they regret. That could include becoming verbally or even physically abusive with a spouse or a child. One single incident isn’t inherently reason to leave your relationship, but it may be a warning of serious problems to come.

You need to institute a zero-tolerance policy for acts of abuse and also take steps to document anything your spouse does to hurt you or your child. Once you have documentation, you can separate from your spouse and seek the protection of the courts if necessary.

For those whose marriages have begun to break down, honestly evaluating whether it’s possible to save the relationship is an important step. If divorce is in your future, you may need to start strategizing now to ensure a clean and safe exit from your marriage.