Blog
Attorney Milena Nowicka
Permanent and irretrievable breakdown of marital life – what does it mean and how does it relate to the causes of divorce?
What are the most common causes of divorce in Poland?
Incompatibility of characters as a ground for divorce
Breach of marital fidelity
Alcohol abuse
Other causes of divorce according to Statistics Poland (GUS)
In 2024, approximately 139,000 marriages were concluded in Poland. Already in the first half of last year, the number of divorces amounted to around 40,000. In 66% of cases, divorce petitions were filed by women. However, statistics provide us not only with information on the number of divorces. They also allow us to determine what leads to the breakdown of a marriage. So, what are the most common causes of divorce invoked by petitioners?
For a court to grant a divorce, it must establish that there has been a permanent and irretrievable breakdown of marital life. This means that the emotional, physical, and economic bonds between the spouses have ceased to exist. Moreover, there is no prospect of restoring them.
Although a divorce judgment always uses the general concept of a “breakdown of marital life,” in practice it takes many different forms and has many different causes. It may occur for a wide range of reasons, which can be described precisely as the causes of divorce.
According to data from Statistics Poland (GUS) for 2024, the most common reasons for the breakdown of marital life are:
In 2024, incompatibility of characters accounted for 52.2% of all divorces.
Although this ground may sound innocuous, in reality it refers to everyday conflicts and a lack of understanding on various levels. Most divorces result from long-term disputes over child-rearing, finances, ways of spending free time, or general approaches to life.
It often turns out that two people who once loved each other simply stop being compatible and see no other solution than separation. When such differences are so significant that normal functioning as a couple becomes impossible, the court may grant a divorce due to a permanent breakdown of marital life.
Does this mean that so many marriages in Poland are poorly matched? Not necessarily. This ground is very general and, for that reason, it is also invoked by couples who do not wish to disclose details of their private lives—for example, those who are ashamed of having been victims of domestic violence. As a result, they resign from pursuing a fault-based divorce and limit themselves to citing “incompatibility of characters.”
Marital infidelity, understood as entering into an intimate relationship with another person, is one of the most painful reasons for the breakdown of a marriage. It accounted for 17.5% of all divorces. Infidelity destroys trust, which is extremely difficult—and in many cases impossible—to rebuild.
It should be remembered that in such cases, if proven, the court may recognize infidelity as the primary cause of the breakdown of marital life and grant a divorce attributable to the fault of the unfaithful spouse. This, in turn, is associated with more favorable rules regarding spousal maintenance. It is also worth noting that although infidelity is usually associated with physical betrayal, emotional infidelity may also constitute grounds for divorce.
Alcohol addiction is a problem that destroys entire families. A person who abuses alcohol often becomes aggressive, emotionally unavailable, and neglects the household and their responsibilities. Divorce statistics show that in 2024 this ground accounted for 7,770 divorces, i.e. 12.9% of all marriages dissolved that year.
Such situations are also accompanied by financial problems—money is spent on alcohol rather than on the family’s needs. This often leads to neglect of the spouse and children and may be accompanied by domestic violence. For the entire family, this means living under constant stress and uncertainty. If treatment is ineffective or the addicted person refuses to change, divorce often becomes the only way to protect oneself and one’s children.
Other common reasons for the breakdown of marriages include domestic violence and reprehensible conduct toward the family, housing problems, financial disputes, sexual incompatibility, differences in worldview, as well as various addictions.
These are situations in which one spouse mistreats the other or the children—shouting, humiliating, or using physical or psychological violence.
Sometimes these behaviors are less visible but equally painful, such as contempt, verbal abuse, or deliberate ignoring. Such a home environment makes a peaceful life impossible, and courts often find that the marriage has no chance of being salvaged.
The lack of adequate housing or living in difficult conditions (overcrowding, lack of privacy) generates tensions that may lead to separation. In such circumstances, conflicts arise more easily when each family member lacks personal space for rest and privacy.
Differences regarding finances may also lead to frequent arguments and, over time, emotional distancing. In extreme cases, one spouse may refuse to work or conceal debts.
When it becomes impossible to plan expenses jointly, disputes and a lack of trust emerge. Such economic conflicts may significantly deteriorate the atmosphere within the relationship. Increasingly, divorces also involve the issue of economic abuse.
Like alcoholism, other addictions have a destructive impact on the family. An addicted person often neglects loved ones, spends money on the addiction, and loses touch with reality.
This also constitutes reprehensible conduct toward family members. Therefore, if no treatment is undertaken, a decision to file for divorce may be made in order to protect oneself and the children.
Although there may be many reasons for divorce, ultimately what matters is whether there has been a permanent and irretrievable breakdown of the emotional, physical, and economic bonds between the spouses. The mere existence of conflict or difficulties is not sufficient. You must convince the court that your marriage cannot be restored.
For this reason, it is crucial to present appropriate arguments and evidence in divorce proceedings—such as witness testimony, documents, therapy records, or circumstances of daily life. These elements demonstrate that the breakdown of the relationship is definitive.
In such a situation, it is advisable to seek the assistance of a family law attorney. Such a lawyer will not only prepare you for the hearing and draft the divorce petition, but will also help gather the necessary evidence and address issues that many spouses acting on their own tend to overlook. It should be borne in mind that in a divorce judgment the court rules on many additional matters, including spousal maintenance, the jointly occupied dwelling, and issues concerning minor children.
