Indiana operates under a system where marital dissolution does not require proof of wrongdoing by either spouse. This framework allows a divorce to proceed based solely on the assertion that the marriage is irretrievably broken. As a practical matter, this means a party seeking to end a marriage in Indiana does not have to demonstrate fault, such as adultery or abuse, on the part of the other spouse. The court can grant a divorce based on the irreconcilable differences between the parties, regardless of whether both parties agree the marriage is beyond repair.
The absence of a fault requirement streamlines the divorce process, potentially reducing legal costs and emotional strain. It can minimize adversarial conflict, as neither party needs to accuse the other of specific misdeeds to obtain a divorce. Historically, divorce laws often required demonstrating fault, which could lead to lengthy and contentious court battles. The shift to this current model acknowledges the reality that marriages sometimes simply fail, even without either party being explicitly to blame. This can allow parties to move on with their lives more quickly and with less animosity.
