Is It A Felony To Cheat On Your Spouse In Iowa, Illinois, Or Wisconsin?

'Tis the season of love...kinda.

We're a week away from Valentine's Day and sometimes stuff comes to light around now. It's not hard to figure out if your spouse or partner is cheating. Suddenly they're really possessive of their phones, maybe they're not home much, maybe they're emotionally distant.

It sucks to be cheated on. But if you're like me, you want revenge.

It's easier when karma smacks someone who cheated on you without you having to do much about it. And that can happen, courtesy of the United States of America law *cue eagle screech*.

Illinois

In fact, how does a year in jail and a $2,500 fine sound for the adulterer? Illinois law considers infidelity (adultery, in their legal terms) a Class A misdemeanor. 

Now, it's rarely enforced. The last time it was used was in 1997.

Adultery isn't considered a reason for divorce in Illinois anymore. Legally, you'd have to cite irreconcilable differences.

Iowa

Like Illinois, Iowa is a "no-fault" divorce state, meaning you can't blame the cheater for the divorce. At least not legally.

Until the 1970's, "Iowa Homewrecker Law" was in place, which did make it a crime to cheat on your spouse.

Now in Iowa, infidelity can't be used as grounds for a divorce, but it can come into consideration when looking at the division of marriage assets.

Wisconsin

The land of cheese really isn't messing around when it comes to messing around. Adultery in Wisconsin is considered a Class 1 Felony, with a $10,000 fine and jail time.

Similar to Illinois, the law is rarely enforced in a courtroom. But if evidence is brought up in divorce proceedings that the affair impacted the marriage finances or the kids, then it becomes relevant.

So before you make stupid decisions, ask yourself if it's really worth losing assets, jail time, or fines. Just because the laws haven't been enforced in a minute doesn't mean they can't be. It's still law.