What are the grounds for divorce?

You can only get divorced in Germany through a court judgment, and the marriage must be legally broken down — usually proven by at least one year of separation (or three years if only one spouse applies).

In Canada, you can get a divorce based on one of three grounds: separation for at least one year, adultery, or cruelty.

In Ireland, divorce can only be granted if the spouses have lived apart for at least 4 of the previous 5 years, there is no reasonable prospect of reconciliation, and proper provision has been made for each spouse and any dependent children.

In Singapore, divorce can be granted only if the marriage has broken down irretrievably, proven by one of five statutory facts: adultery, unreasonable behaviour, desertion for at least two years, separation for at least three years (with consent), or separation for at least four years (without consent).

You can apply for a divorce in England and Wales by submitting a sole or joint application online via the GOV.UK service, citing irretrievable breakdown of the marriage — now the only ground, with no need to prove fault or separation periods under the new no-fault system introduced in 2022.

California is a no-fault divorce state: the only legal ground is 'irreconcilable differences' that have caused the irremediable breakdown of the marriage.

New York allows divorce only on seven statutory grounds, including irretrievable breakdown of the marriage for at least six months, cruel and inhuman treatment, abandonment for one year, imprisonment for three or more consecutive years, adultery, judgment of separation, and separation agreement.

In South Korea, divorce may be granted for specific statutory grounds including adultery, malicious abandonment, extreme mistreatment, disappearance for three years, or other serious reasons making marriage unsustainable.

In Japan, judicial divorce is granted only if one of five statutory grounds under the Civil Code is proven, such as adultery, abandonment, or unexplained disappearance for three years.

Under Hindu law in India, divorce can be granted on grounds including cruelty, adultery, desertion for two years, conversion to another religion, unsound mind, leprosy, venereal disease, renunciation of the world, and presumption of death.