Legal Definitions - irremediable or irretrievable breakdown

Irremediable or irretrievable breakdown

Irremediable or irretrievable breakdown is a common reason for a no-fault divorce in many U.S. states. It means that the marriage has broken down beyond repair and cannot be fixed. Courts do not investigate the reasons for the divorce, but instead focus on whether the marriage is irretrievably broken.

Example 1: John and Jane have been married for 10 years, but they have grown apart and no longer love each other. They have tried counseling, but it has not helped. They decide to get a divorce because their marriage is irretrievably broken.

Example 2: Tom and Sarah have been married for 20 years, but Tom has been cheating on Sarah for the past year. Sarah is devastated and wants a divorce. She files for divorce on the grounds of irretrievable breakdown because she believes that their marriage cannot be saved.

These examples illustrate the definition of irretrievable breakdown because in both cases, the couples have tried to fix their marriage but have been unsuccessful. The marriages have broken down beyond repair, and the only option is to get a divorce. The courts would grant a divorce based on irretrievable breakdown in both cases.