ABA Family Legal Guide

Family Law

3.4 Separation, Annulment, and Divorce

Divorce

What are the grounds for obtaining a divorce based on fault?

States that allow fault-based divorce vary somewhat on the permissible grounds. Many states permit divorce for adultery, physical cruelty, mental cruelty, attempted murder, desertion, habitual drunkenness, use of addictive drugs, insanity, impotence, and infection of one's spouse with venereal disease.