Everyone here in Boston has known a couple that, from the outside, seemed like the perfect match. Maybe their home life looked so flawless when you were invited over for a dinner party, for example, that divorce seemed hard to imagine, or maybe they seemed so loving from your perspective that it was difficult to think they could be having difficulty.

But the fact is, relationships are hard to know fully. In fact, the only two people who can ever claim to fully understand a relationship are the two people who are in it. It is not at all unheard of that a couple starts out very much in love, but later decides they are not quite right for each other and that divorce is the right step.

That seems to be what happened in the case of supermodel Heidi Klum and singer Seal. The two were married for seven years and were frequently photographed renewing their vows on their anniversary.

Although gossip magazines are not good source for information, several of them have speculated that Klum’s career had gotten in the way of their relationship (in addition to raking in millions as a model, she’s the host of the hit program “Project Runway”). Others have said Seal, whose singing career hasn’t exactly been producing hits, was partying too much when he was away giving concerts.

The reasons for Klum and Seal’s split, though, are irrelevant. What is relevant to Boston readers about this story is the fact that people sometimes decide they are better apart than they are married. If that is the case with you, you might consider a consultation with a divorce attorney. He or she can listen to your objectives (a fair property division agreement, say, or minimizing impact on children) and outline a path to help you achieve them.

Source: The South Florida Sun Sentinel, “Heidi Klum, Seal ready to say ‘Auf Wiedersehen,’” Bill Zwecker, Jan. 22, 2012