Written by 
A divorce expert has said that a lack of communication is the one thing most of his clients have in common.
Conflict expert James Brien from Easy Online Divorce has said that whilst each relationship is different it is this breakdown in communication that he sees across multiple couples.
James explained that it is often not a “single action” that causes people to split or choose to break up a marriage, but something that occurs over time.
Even in the cases of infidelity – where one partner cheats on another – that may not be the sole cause and there could be other reasons around that which have led to a relationship’s end.
James said: “There are many factors behind why couples divorce, and it’s often not one single action that spells the end of a marriage. But there is a common theme I see in most couples looking to end their legal partnership – a lack of communication.
“At some point along the way their communication has broken down and they have found it hard or impossible to speak to one other about the problems they are facing.
“They have stopped opening up about what’s wrong, stopped working through problems together and bitterness and resentment has started to seep in.
“I see this when they reach the stage of wanting to end their marriage and are at complete odds about why their relationship has crumbled. Often one action is blamed – such as infidelity – but the truth is a marriage has often broken down before such an act is carried out.”
However, James added that whilst the breaking down of a marriage and the subsequent separation of the two people can be difficult, improved communication can make this a less painful experience.
He added: “Divorce can have far-reaching emotional impacts. This is why it’s so important to be as open and honest with each other as possible.
“Be truthful about your feelings and listen when your partner does the same. If you do reach a point where you can no longer stay in the marriage, an understanding of each other goes a huge way to minimising conflict. It’s a big ask but it is possible.”
James isn’t the only individual to offer their two cents about why couples divorce, speaking to the Express, attorney Andrew Zashin supposed the reason for most breakups.
He suggested: “Most people assume that the primary causes of divorce are couples who naturally ‘grow apart’ over time and become disinterested in one another, or situations where one of the parties engages in some sort of extra-marital activity”
“Most family law experts agree that the most frequent reasons couples decide to divorce relate to money. From my 30 plus years of practice I am certain that money-related issues are the primary cause of divorce.”