no-fault divorce
Uncontested marital dissolution
No-fault divorce is a legal dissolution of marriage that doesn't require proving wrongdoing by either spouse.
Before no-fault laws, someone seeking divorce had to establish grounds like adultery, cruelty, or abandonment.
Now couples can cite irreconcilable differences or irretrievable breakdown: California pioneered no-fault divorce in 1970.
The term appears in debates about marriage policy and family law reform.
Breaking up completely
- petitionFormal written appeal
- alimonyCourt-ordered post-divorce payments
- custodyProtective care or control
- settlementResolved dispute or colony
mediation · spousal support · child support · court · judge · petitioner · respondent · jurisdiction
Agreement by all parties
- cooperativeJointly operated enterprise
- uncontestedFacing no rivals
- civilMinimally polite
- respectfulShowing proper regard
cordial · nonconfrontational · collaborative · mediated · negotiated · harmonious · diplomatic · agreeable
Emotional separation between people
- splitSeparation into parts
- breakupRomantic relationship's termination
- partingAct of leaving another
- dissolutionBreaking up completely
detachment · alienation · rift · disengagement · disconnection · growing apart · incompatibility · breakdown
Conflicts that cannot harmonize
- progressiveFavoring reform and innovation
- autonomyIndependent decision-making capacity
- empowermentGaining authority or confidence
- liberationRelease from constraint
modernization · social change · gender equality · marriage equality · legal reform · Ronald Reagan · women's rights · individual rights
dissolution
Breaking up completely
- petitionFormal written appeal
- alimonyCourt-ordered post-divorce payments
- custodyProtective care or control
settlement · mediation · spousal support · child support · court · judge · petitioner · respondent · jurisdiction · marital property
mutual consent
Agreement by all parties
- cooperativeJointly operated enterprise
- uncontestedFacing no rivals
- civilMinimally polite
respectful · cordial · nonconfrontational · collaborative · mediated · negotiated · harmonious · diplomatic · agreeable · peaceful
estrangement
Emotional separation between people
dissolution · detachment · alienation · rift · disengagement · disconnection · growing apart · incompatibility · breakdown · marital breakdown
irreconcilable differences
Conflicts that cannot harmonize
- progressiveFavoring reform and innovation
- autonomyIndependent decision-making capacity
- empowermentGaining authority or confidence
liberation · modernization · social change · gender equality · marriage equality · legal reform · Ronald Reagan · women's rights · individual rights · self-determination
- divorcedivision of assets, grounds, legal separation, alimony, child support
- family lawchild custody, child support, alimony, family court, custody law
- marriage lawmarriage contract, marriage certificate, matrimony, marriage license, betrothal
- infidelityadultery, affair, adulteress, cheating, cheater
- California LawCCPA, three strikes, community property, rent control, cannabis law
no-fault divorcecontested divorce
Marriage ended through court dispute
annulment · divorce litigation · reconciliation · marital harmony
no-fault divorcemarriage
Formal union between partners
wedlock · matrimony · marital union · reconciliation · wedding
no-fault divorcewedding
Marriage rite and feast
marriage ceremony · nuptials · getting married · tying the knot · exchanging vows
fault, divorce, divorces, divorcing, divorcee, divorcees, divorcement, no-fault