What grounds can you file for a divorce? 44 Answers as of August 17, 2011

In the state of Washington, you do not need "grounds" to get a divorce. You only need to be willing to swear that the marriage is "irretrievably broken."

There are two avenues for requesting divorce: (1) No-fault - which requires you live separate and apart for two years if your spouse will not agree to divorce or that you live separate and apart for 6 months if they do agree; and (2) Fault - the faults you can use are listed in the Illinois divorce statute, but the most common one used would be "repeated mental cruelty".

It sounds like you need to file under irreconcilable differences. You may call the office today to discuss this options and other options as a grounds for divorce in Illinois. We offer free 30 minute confidential consultation.

Nebraska is a no fault divorce state. You do not have to have a reason why you want a divorce.

No "grounds" for divorce are necessary. All that is required is that one party must believe there has been an irretrievable breakdown of the marital relationship.

You can file for divorce for any reason or no reason at all. The legal standard is irreconcilable differences. Oregon is a no fault divorce state.

Generally, in Georgia, no fault grounds must be alleged. Generally, it is sufficient if the marriage is irretrievably broken. Retain a divorce lawyer and discuss all your rights and options. Good luck.

CT is a no-fault state so you do not need any reason other than irretrievable breakdown of the marriage

The below lists out all the possible grounds for a divorce in Georgia. The most common ground from the list below is that the marriage is irretrievably broken due to irreconcilable differences. (1) Intermarriage by persons within the prohibited degrees of consanguinity or affinity; (2) Mental incapacity at the time of the marriage; (3) Impotency at the time of the marriage; (4) Force, menace, duress, or fraud in obtaining the marriage; (5) Pregnancy of the wife by a man other than the husband, at the time of the marriage, unknown to the husband; (6) Adultery in either of the parties after marriage; (7) Willful and continued desertion by either of the parties for the term of one year; (8) The conviction of either party for an offense involving moral turpitude, under which he is sentenced to imprisonment in a penal institution for a term of two years or longer; (9) Habitual intoxication; (10) Cruel treatment, which shall consist of the willful infliction of pain, bodily or mental, upon the complaining party, such as reasonably justifies apprehension of danger to life, limb, or health; (11) Incurable mental illness. No divorce shall be granted upon this ground unless the mentally ill party has been adjudged mentally ill by a court of competent jurisdiction or has been certified to be mentally ill by two physicians who have personally examined the party; and he has been confined in an institution for the mentally ill or has been under continuous treatment for mental illness for a period of at least two years immediately preceding the commencement of the action; and the superintendent or other chief executive officer of the institution and one competent physician appointed by the court, after a thorough examination, make a certified statement under oath that it is their opinion that the party evidences such a want of reason, memory, and intelligence as to prevent the party from comprehending the nature, duties, and consequences of the marriage relationship and that, in the light of present day medical knowledge, recovery of the party's mental health cannot be expected at any time during his life. Notice of the action must be served upon the guardian of the person of the mentally ill person and upon the superintendent or other chief executive officer of the institution in which the person is confined. In the event that there is no guardian of the person, then notice of the action shall be served upon a guardian ad litem, who shall be appointed by the court in which the divorce action is filed, and upon the superintendent or chief executive officer of the institution in which the person is confined. The guardian and superintendent shall be entitled to appear and be heard upon the issues. The status of the parties as to the support and maintenance of the mentally ill person shall not be altered in any way by the granting of the divorce; (12) Habitual drug addiction, which shall consist of addiction to any controlled substance as defined in Article 2 of Chapter 13 of Title 16; (13) The marriage is irretrievably broken. Under no circumstances shall the court grant a divorce on this ground until not less than 30 days from the date of service on the respondent.

Florida is a no fault state. It is enough that you don't love your spouse anymore and no longer want to be married. Hence, the marriage is "irretrievably broken." You do not need any other grounds.

In Arizona, if you have a non-covenant marriage, your marriage must be "irretrievably broken with no reasonable prospect of reconciliation."

All that is required is a firm conviction that the marriage is "irretrievably broken" and cannot be fixed. The court must grant the divorce.

Wisconsin does not require a reason.

All you have to allege is that the marriage is irretrievably broken and that no amount of counseling will fix it. Florida is a no fault state. I suggest you consult a local Family Law attorney to discuss your case in greater detail and learn all of your rights and options. Good luck.

There are several grounds for divorce in Arkansas such as adultery, failure to support, drunkenness, being in prison for a year or more, and so on, most people just allege general indignities. At the final hearing the judge may ask for specifics but usually that is not a problem.

Yes. Check the box for irreconcilable differences and move on.

California is a no fault state, which means that you do not need to show any grounds in order to get a divorce. The only grounds required are "irreconcilable differences."

You are in luck. The law in California is you can file for divorce and you DO NOT HAVE TO PROVIDE ANY SPECIFIC REASON.... So you can file at anytime.

California is a "no fault" state. Meaning, that the reason for divorce is irrelevant. On page 2 of the Divorce Petition (form FL-100), you simply check a box indicating "irreconcilable difference." If you need further assistance, it is advisable to consult with a local family law lawyer. Good luck!

California is a no fault divorce state. You only need irreconcilable differences that cause the irremediable breakdown of the marriage.

You do not need a reason in Washington State; just the "marriage is irretrievably broken."

In Florida no you don't, you can get divorced without giving a reason.

Being unhappy is fine. California divorces do not require any specific grounds.

Irreconcilable differences are all you need to seek a divorce. If you are unhappy in the marriage, that is sufficient justification for your divorce.

Florida is a "no-fault" state. As long as you believe that the marriage is irretrievably broken, that is sufficient. You do not need a more substantial reason.

In Georgia you do not need a "fault" ground for divorce. You can allege that the marriage is irretrievably broken (no fault grounds).

PA is a No-Fault Divorce state. You can/should use the generic "the marriage is irretrievably broken due to irreconcilable differences" basis.

Nevada is a "no fault" State.

Since Georgia allows no-fault divorce, you don't need a reason. You can simply assert your marriage is irretrievably broken.

The only reason you need to obtain a divorce is your belief that the marriage is "irretrievably broken." The Court will not question your motives.

No reason is needed in wisconsin

Washington is a no fault state. You can get out as long as you say the marriage is over and there is no hope for reconciliation. Don't worry about having a reason.

Arizona is a no fault state. You don't have to have a reason to get divorced except that there are irreconcilable differences.