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These experts are usually a Ph.D. and may serve a dual role of a private child custody evaluator. Spousal support may still be in play and whether the court orders spousal support on a temporary basis and before the divorce is final depends too much on the case’s specific facts to discuss in detail here. If the alcohol abuse is so severe that the person is simply unable to function on a day-to-day basis, a rehabilitation program may be the best course of action.
- Pro Bono lawyers (free ones) can also offer free legal advice – contact your state bar association.
- Our firm handles divorce and family law cases in each of the seven Southern California counties.
- Additionally, an attorney might help you communicate with your alcoholic spouse and negotiate favorable terms in your parenting agreement.
- Instead, they can base their divorce on incompatibility or simply no longer wanting to stay married.
- By taking steps to protect your assets during property division, you can ensure that you’re setting yourself up for a more stable financial future.
You may also hold your spouse accountable for their sobriety by requesting a court order that requires them to attend a 12-step program or other treatment program. To prove compliance with the program and court order, your spouse may have to provide evidence that they attended the required amount of sessions. It’s also important to establish healthy boundaries with your ex-spouse. This might mean limiting contact to only necessary communication about the children, or it might mean setting rules about when and how your ex-spouse can visit with the children. An experienced attorney can help you establish and enforce these boundaries. It’s important to focus on self-care, establish healthy boundaries, and seek help when needed.
Addressing Custody And Visitation Issues
But a judge might choose to allocate all or most custody rights to one parent in some circumstances. The determining factor for child custody is what’s in the best interest of the child. After the divorce, you may find yourself dealing with a range of emotions.
Being married to an alcoholic can make the other spouse feel depressed, hopeless, and alone. However, some jurisdictions require couples to live apart for a predetermined time before granting it. As long as you know that you’ve tried your best, then you shouldn’t feel guilty for removing this person from your life.
We’ll also provide strategies for finding and organizing these documents, such as using online tools or working with a financial advisor. By evaluating the consequences of living with an alcoholic, you can gain a clearer perspective on the impact it has had on your life and make informed mixing valium diazepam and alcohol: dangers and effects decisions about your future. It creeps in and ruins relationships, it lies, it’s tricky and plays with people’s minds. And, there is no cure for addiction, only management of the disease. The number one weapon to managing addiction (getting it under control) is education and support.
Evaluating the Consequences of Living with an Alcoholic
This could include establishing ground rules for phone calls and visits with the ex-spouse and ensuring that they are not under the influence while spending time with them. According to the National Institutes of Health, over 10 million Americans are affected by marriage dissolution due to alcohol dependence and addiction. When divorcing an alcoholic spouse, it is important for both parties to set boundaries when communicating about the divorce process.
And, I don’t think someone would want to divorce someone because the person has cancer. But when it comes to alcoholism, part of the disease is not being able to face the fact that you need help, your family is frustrated and angry with you, and you might be functioning fairly normally. Alcoholism can truly ruin not just the alcoholic’s life, but his or her loved ones, including children.
Divorcing an Alcoholic in Florida
The Marriage.com Editorial Team is a group of experienced relationship writers, experts, and mental health professionals. We provide practical and research-backed advice on relationships. Our virtual meeting schedule content is thoroughly reviewed by experts to ensure that we offer high-quality and reliable relationship advice. You should talk to your lawyer about what is best for you and your children.
We help certain clients file for bankruptcy relief under the U.S. Marble PC does not seek to represent clients in jurisdictions where doing so would be unauthorized. This might mean taking time each day to relax and do something you enjoy, eating healthy foods, getting regular exercise, or spending time with supportive friends and family. Self-care is not a luxury; it’s a necessity, especially during challenging times. Reach out to friends, family members, and professionals for support. You may want to consider individual counseling or therapy after your divorce.
This will give you a clearer picture of what resources are available to you during this difficult time. It’s also important to understand how any joint accounts or investments will be divided between you and your spouse so that both parties receive an equitable share of assets. Alcoholism can have a profoundly damaging effect on a marriage and its members. Alcohol abuse can lead to domestic violence, financial ruin and emotional trauma. It can also increase the risk of child custody issues if parties cannot come to an agreement. Furthermore, there’s a stigma linked with alcoholism, so you may feel like you can’t talk openly about the situation with friends and family.
By taking these steps, you can ensure that you’re taking care of yourself during a difficult time and setting yourself up for a more secure future. Having a high-functioning alcoholic spouse can be challenging, and divorcing them often requires special care. With patience, diligence, and the right resources, you can divorce your spouse with minimal emotional or financial damage to yourself. Your soon-to-be ex might hide their habits by disappearing for long periods without explaining what they were doing or lying about how they’ve been spending money or time.
Reach out to friends, family, your family law attorney, therapist or a support group for guidance and emotional support. Also consult a divorce attorney to help protect yourself legally, physically and financially. Lastly, make sure you document everything as this will be crucial evidence if your spouse denies the alcoholism. Once you have filed for divorce, your lawyer will walk you through the steps that you should take next concerning custody arrangements, assets, and rebuilding various aspects of your life. A certified high-conflict relationship coach like Stacey Beale can help you through the emotional difficulties that you encounter. At the same time, one of our many experienced family law attorneys will expertly navigate the legal process with you.
