Grounds for Divorce

In North Dakota, it is possible to get a divorce based on both no-fault and fault-based grounds. No-fault grounds imply that both spouses agree to terminate the marriage, and no one blames the other that the marriage is broken. The no-fault ground for divorce is "Irreconcilable differences" between the spouses without hope of reconciliation. This ground is well-suited for an uncontested divorce.

Fault-based grounds mean that misconduct on the part of one of the spouses led to the desire to dissolve the marriage. The plaintiff will have to provide the court with proof of the guilt of his/her spouse. Fault-based grounds for divorce include adultery, a conviction of a felony, willful desertion or neglect, alcohol or drug addiction, and extreme cruelty or domestic violence.