Divorce examples of unreasonable behaviour are wide-ranging and include various behaviours.
If you’re going through the process of divorce in the UK and you’re wondering how it works, including what’s included under the umbrella of ‘unreasonable behaviour’, then you’re not alone.
Every case is different and there are numerous factors to consider in any divorce, whether it’s the assets you both own (jointly and individually), whether there’s any children involved and the circumstances around the divorce.
If you would like to speak with a specialist divorce solicitor, please either call us now on 0845 1391399 or complete a Free Online Enquiry » and we will connect you, without cost or obligation.
Let us run through some examples of unreasonable behaviour in divorce.
Unreasonable Behaviour Divorce Examples UK
Unreasonable behaviour is an overarching term that includes A LOT of different behaviours and actions that might lead to the breakdown of a marriage and may be relevant to you.
The most common examples of unreasonable behaviour for divorce include:
- Domestic abuse
- Emotional abuse
- Debts and financial recklessness
- Inappropriate relationship with another person
- Lack of support
- Excessive gaming or use of social media
- Family disputes
- Verbal abuse
- Drunkenness
- Lack of socialising together
Unreasonable behaviour is cited in 45% of all divorce applications, making it the most commonly used ground for divorce in England and Wales.
Grounds For Divorce
Uneasonable behaviour is just one of the 5 grounds for divorce, which in full are:
- Adultery
- Unreasonable behaviour
- Desertion
- Living apart for more than 2 years, with an agreement
- Living apart for more than 5 years, without an agreement
If you believe the breakdown of your relationship comes under any of those grounds, or any of the featured categories of unreasonable behaviour, then it’s worth seeking expert legal advice.
Of course, no-fault divorce came into effect in England and Wales in April 2022 and represents a significant change since divorce can be granted without one partner blaming the other.
What If Unreasonable Behaviour Is A Significant Part of My Divorce?
When it comes to unreasonable behaviour as grounds for divorce, the onus is on you to prove that the fact your partner has acted unreasonably has caused the breakdown of your marriage.
You must provide the court with written examples of their unreasonable behaviour on your divorce petition, which could include details of their behaviour, when it happened, and how it made you feel.
It’s also worth noting that an application for a divorce on the grounds of unreasonable behaviour MUST be submitted within 6 months of the last incident of behaviour occurring.
However, a divorce petition CAN be submitted after longer than 6 months if one partner moves out of the matrimonial home.
This is why it’s important to seek expert legal advice as soon as possible to give you the best chance of achieving a positive outcome.
A couple of other things to know are that the grounds for divorce and allegations of unreasonable behaviour WON’T be shared with the public and that any allegations MUST be specific to your circumstances, and your behaviours shouldn’t be used in any way.
What If They Deny Unreasonable Behaviour?
The reality is that in any divorce, there are two parties and each will have their own views and interpretations of what happened. This isn’t to say that you’re not telling the truth or that you’re exaggerating in any way, but your former partner might dispute that the unreasonable behaviour occurred or that the behaviour was a significant contributor to the end of your marriage.
It might even be that they disagree with the allegations of unreasonable behaviour but they’re happy to proceed with the divorce under different circumstances.
Obviously, it will depend on what you’re hoping to achieve from the divorce proceedings, but there may be an easier way to complete the divorce without the need for a costly court battle.
In fact, they could even agree not to contest the divorce but make it clear that they disagree with the allegations of unreasonable behaviour. That would mean your divorce could be completed without any further delays and the rest of the process should be relatively straightforward.
Divorce Lawyers Near Me
We know that divorce is a stressful and difficult time for everyone involved.
That’s why having an expert divorce solicitor acting on your behalf is so important to ensure that you’re in the best possible positive to achieve a positive outcome.
At Solicitors Near Me, our service is completely FREE, so you can focus on what really matters.
You won’t pay a single penny to us, and you’ll only be committed to your divorce lawyer once you give them the go-ahead.
Get Connected With A Specialist Divorce Solicitor Near Me Now!
To be connected to a specialist divorce solicitor near to where you live, please either call us now on 0845 1391399 or complete a Free Online Enquiry ».
