Getting a divorce isn’t something that anybody really wants to do, but in many cases, it’s a better option than staying in a broken marriage that can’t be fixed. While you might think that getting a divorce will hurt your children, the truth is that growing up around two unhappy parents that just can’t get along and no longer love each other can be much more difficult.

According to countless testimonials and advice columns, even the strongest marriages require effort to remain intact. However, when keeping matrimony together becomes more of a constant chore than a earnest challenge, it may be time to examine the possibility of ending the marriage altogether. Most people have the best long-term intentions when saying ‘I do’ and don’t get hitched frivolously. Therefore, paying attention to certain signals is important -- particularly when those signs are pointing toward divorce. Here are seven signs you might need a divorce and your marriage should take a final bow.

Florida is a no fault state.  That does not mean that adultery has zero effect on a divorce.  Many people want to use adultery in a punitive manner, but unfortunately, or fortunately, it cannot be done.  Most people want to use it as a defense or offense regarding alimony.  If you are the person seeking alimony, the other persons adultery means next to nothing.  It only comes into play if the adulterous party spent significant marital funds furthering the adulterous relationship.  For example, if the adulterer purchased jewelry for, say, $5,000.00, for the party for whom the adulterine party is having the affair with, then half of that $5,000.00 would be marital and theoretically should be paid back to the non-adulterous spouse. 

The new alimony law is slowly making its way through the legislature.  It has not been signed by the governor as of the date of this blog.  Things could change in the analysis below, but this is where it stands:

To modify child custody in the State of Florida one must prove a substantial change in circumstances since the entry of the last order addressing custody and that the substantial change in circumstances now shows the best interest of another parent to take custody.  This standard is used to modify a time sharing arrangement in any way.