A high divorce rate is not new for Switzerland. However, societal norms and expectations regarding marriage have changed over time. The shaping of these norms at the time of the introduction of the federal civil marriage is the subject of this study. Divorce records from the years 1876 to 1911 from Protestant Bern and the Catholic district of Saane (Fribourg) provide insights into marital conflicts and the issues surrounding disputes over marriage order and normality: whether it concerns worries about children, neglect of gender-specific duties, alcohol problems, waning love, or suspected infidelity. How do judges respond to the alleged violations of norms? What is the relationship between law, jurisprudence, and the discursive practices of the plaintiffs and defendants? What role do the variables of gender and context play?.