When a couple in California marries and moves in together, they will have to divvy up the household chores. For example, one spouse might be in charge of the laundry, while the other cleans the bathrooms. Or, sometimes one spouse writes the other a "honey-do" list of chores they'd like their partner to complete. Of course, disagreements about who should do which chores will happen. Sometimes one spouse feels like they are taking on the lion's share of the housework, and that their partner is not pulling their weight when it comes to chores. Couples fight over chores from time-to-time.
In fact, according to one survey, 25 percent of divorced respondents reported that they ended their marriage due to disagreements about housework. Studies have also shown that if people spend some money in order to save time, they feel a greater sense of satisfaction. So, perhaps, if a couple is able to hire a cleaning service, they may not fight as much over chores and they will be able to spend more quality time together.
Of course, not every married couple can afford a housekeeper and some marriages are simply so broken that something like a cleaning service is not enough to prevent divorce. While some couples may cite arguments over chores as the primary reason for their divorce, there are many other reasons why a couple will seek divorce. Some may be due to the behavior of one spouse or another, such as having an affair or being abusive. However, sometimes a couple just grows apart over time and will cite irreconcilable differences as the grounds for their divorce. In fact, all states in the nation, including California, recognize no-fault divorce.
So, whether it comes down to chores, bad behavior, a change in life goals or a change in personality, in the end, not every marriage is meant to last. When a couple decides to divorce they will have a lot of legal issues to untangle. However, if they are able to cooperate, they may be able to reach a settlement that they both feel good about and can walk away from their marriage satisfied.
Source: The New York Times, "Fighting Over Chores? Spend Some Money, Save the Marriage," Austin Frakt, April 2, 2018
