The sanctity of marriage can be both beautiful and complicated. Oftentimes, a marriage is much different on the inside than others outside the marriage perceive it to be. Things may seem like they’re going well on the outside, when in reality, a marriage may be close to ending. Here are some warning signs from family law attorneys — who have answered countless family law questions — that indicate your marriage may soon be coming to an end.

1. Nothing in common
   While it may feel fun and quirky to be married to someone who has mostly different interests, it can put a lot of strain on the relationship when it comes to finding things to do together that you’ll both enjoy. Having a different taste in music or movies is one thing, but if one of you loves going out and the other loves staying in, it can be a recipe for disaster over the long term.
2. Dishonesty
   Lying, even about the tiniest things, can create a world of tension in any relationship. There’s a fine line between brutal honesty and just being disrespectful, but if your SO asks for your opinion on something, give it honestly and openly. Not being honest may lead your SO to believe that you may be hiding other things, and it could make them extremely insecure. Not only that, but if you’re holding back emotions, you could erupt at any time and irreparably damage both you and your SO’s psyche.
3. Neglecting home life
   Many divorce lawyers cite career orientation as a primary cause for divorce. While maintaining a job is certainly essential to having a good quality of life, it can cause significant tension if your SO is always too caught up with their career to address your wants and needs. It’s all about finding balance, and as hard as it may be, it’s important to keep your work and home lives separate from one another. It’s okay to unwind by telling your SO about your uptight boss, but you should try to save most of the work talk for the office and look at your home as a stress-free sanctuary without talk of employment.

The average length of a marriage that ends in divorce is nine years, but familiarizing yourself with some of these red flags is a great way to make sure your marriage will last forever. If you have more family law questions or need more family law advice, visit R and S Law Group.