In informal parlance, a divorce means “marriage breakup”. Seeds of a divorce are sown when one spouse begins to think the following:

“I’m fed up with this marriage!” or

“I can’t live with him any longer!” or

“We are just so incompatible!”

“I’ll file for a divorce!”

Maybe not in that fashion, but you get the gist.

When you “breakup” something you separate or divide it, just like removing dirt from gold. So, in real sense, when a spouse decides to divorce the other, they are saying they want to remove the “dirt” from their lives!; Because, that other spouse has become an obnoxious part of him/her.

When you see it this way, you get the picture better. But there are formal and legal definitions:

The legal termination of a marriage and the obligations created by marriage. (A Dictionary of Law. Elizabeth Martin, ed.)

A legal dissolution of the bonds of matrimony, or the separation of husband and wife by a judicial sentence. (Noah Webster’s 1828 Dictionary, in e-Sword.)

The following may be noted from these formal definitions:

(1) Marriage is a contract; a divorce ends it.

(2) When a divorce occurs, the persons concerned no longer owe each other anything.

(3) A marriage must exist between two persons before a divorce can occur.So, are you fed up with your marriage?

So, are you fed up with your marriage?

Articles on this blog are meant to provide general knowledge on divorce law in Nigeria and do not, by any means, substitute for proper consultation with legal experts. Need help? Go Here!