Many Connecticut residents have misconceptions about marriage and what causes them to fail. By understanding the difference between the myths and reality, people may take steps that might enable their marriages to last.

A common myth about marriage is that active listening helps to save relationships. While active listening is a good method to resolve conflict, research shows that it has no effect on whether or not a marriage might be saved. Some couples who are happily married have frequent fights and do just fine. For some people, active listening might mean that they are bottling up their emotions instead of working through them with their spouses.

Another myth is that marriages are ruined by people's personality flaws. However, no one is perfect. It's not the flaws that lead to the end of marriages but rather how the other party tolerates them. If people can be more understanding of their spouses' flaws, their marriages might be likelier to last. Some people also think that marriages should always be equal. If people are constantly keeping tallies of what each is contributing, they may become resentful. There are times when people contribute more or less because of the circumstances of life.

In some cases, the end of a marriage is unavoidable. When people feel that the differences that they have with their spouses are irreconcilable, divorce might be necessary. People may want to talk to experienced family law attorneys about what a divorce might mean for them. If they choose to proceed, they can start negotiating a settlement agreement with the assistance of counsel.