Infidelity in a marriage is certainly one of the main things that leads to divorce, but this generally refers to extramarital affairs. It’s important to note that this is not the only way that it can take place. In some cases, couples will break up because of financial infidelity.
This can take many forms, but it is generally when couples begin lying to each other about money. Maybe one person starts taking on debt without telling their spouse. Maybe they’re dishonest about how much money they earn. Perhaps they’ve been spending in a way that their spouse isn’t aware of, such as taking money out of a retirement account to spend on trips, gambling, frivolous purchases, a drug addiction or something else of this nature.
Finances and divorce
When this type of financial infidelity happens, it increases the odds that the couple will get divorced. For one thing, it can create financial stress, which is often linked to divorce. The person who is being dishonest may have spent far more of the family’s money than their spouse realizes, meaning they’re not going to be able to make ends meet or maintain the lifestyle that they want.
But even if the financial situation can be resolved without issue – the couple still has enough money and doesn’t feel any additional stress or pressure – financial infidelity can lead to a breakdown in trust. The other partner will know that they have been intentionally lied to, and they may not be able to rebuild that trust in the future. Over time, the couple can drift apart and end up getting divorced anyway.
When ending a marriage, one key step is to consider the financial implications and how to divide marital assets. This can be complicated when financial infidelity has occurred, so couples in this position need to know what steps to take.
