The Impact of No-Fault Divorce
Marriage has long been considered a binding, serious contract of love, happiness, and commitment between two individuals who promise to cherish and forgive one another. Couples committed to work out conflicts and adapt to changes in circumstances and personality. Divorce was seen as a very significant event that often brought pain and unhappiness to many. Yet attitudes about marriage have dramatically changed. Many now consider marriage as an institution easily entered into and requiring little commitment and adaptation. These changing attitudes about marriage also brought about changes in divorce. Divorce morphed into a common quick-fix band-aid that was sought after any significant trial forced the spouses to rely on their lack of commitment. These dramatically different divorce laws—called the No-Fault Revolution—have negatively affected so many facets of society.
No-Fault Revolution
History shows that the law regarding grounds for divorce revolved around fault-based policies. The law required fault such as infidelity, abuse, or drunkenness to be present in one or both spouses in order to grant a divorce. These laws were created to signify the seriousness of divorce the magnitude of commitment marriage expected from each spouse. Marriage was not to be entered into lightly and was intended to be a lasting union bringing happiness to each spouse and their children. (more…)
