When couples are intentionally dishonest with one another about money, it is known as financial infidelity. They are taking steps to spend or save in ways that they are not sharing with their partner.
This isn’t always a problem. Some couples keep their finances separate, even after they get married. It is possible for this to work.
But financial infidelity is a situation where both partners should be aware of the financial realities. But one person is hiding that reality. For example, maybe someone’s spouse has a drinking addiction or a gambling addiction, so they are secretly spending money without admitting to it.
2 reasons for a divorce
The first reason that financial infidelity leads to divorce is simply because it undermines trust. Married couples need to be able to trust each other in order for that relationship to be strong. Anything that breaks down that trust can cause them to drift apart. When one person finds out that the other has been spending money in these ways, they may not trust each other any longer.
The second reason, of course, is that financial infidelity can sometimes cause hardship for the couple. Maybe the other spouse doesn’t understand how bad the financial situation is because the details are being hidden from them. But they’re going to find out when they run into issues like not being able to pay the mortgage or pay off the credit card bills at the end of the month. Financial stress is also very commonly cited in terms of divorce cases.
If you and your spouse are going to get divorced, it could create a very complex financial situation. Be sure you know what legal steps to take.
