4 Critical Things to Know About Divorcing an Alcoholic The Peck Law Firm Divorce Lawyers

Finally, it’s essential to remember that while divorce can bring with it challenges, it also marks a fresh start in life and offers an opportunity for growth and healing. With guidance from experienced professionals and a supportive network in your corner, you can move forward feeling empowered and ready for what comes next. Remember that setting boundaries and establishing healthy communication takes time and effort, but it is essential for navigating the divorce process while maintaining respect for each other’s needs and boundaries.

What Does Primary Custody Mean and How Much Does it Matter?

However, many alcoholics manage to function effectively, holding down jobs and maintaining households. A high-functioning alcoholic may hide their alcohol abuse for years without suffering any major losses. Under the surface, this form of alcoholism can cause severe psychological and emotional damage to the alcoholic and also their loved ones.. During our decades of representing spouses and parents in their divorces and custody cases, our lawyers have learned that alcohol abuse often is a factor for the breakup of the relationship.

Should You Transfer Money Before Divorce in Washington? What You Need to Know in 2024

The spouse may have spent significant amounts of money on their addiction, which may impact the division of assets. Substance abuse, particularly alcoholism, can have severe implications for parenting. Alcohol abuse can lead to unpredictable behavior, impaired judgment, and emotional instability, all of which can negatively affect a parent’s ability to provide a safe and nurturing environment for their children. Individual therapy sessions can help you address your own emotions, develop coping mechanisms, and gain a better understanding of your rights and options. Family therapy can provide a supportive environment for all family members to communicate and heal from the impact of addiction.

Finding Support Systems

You likely have questions about how to deal with an alcoholic, or how to help an alcoholic. Self-help organizations, church groups, and 12-step programs like Al-Anon and Alateen offer advice, hope and encouragement to people involved with functioning alcoholics. The following tips may prove functional alcoholic husband useful to someone considering divorcing an addict. When getting divorced, it’s important to understand your rights and the legal steps available to you. In some cases, such as when one of the spouses is an alcoholic, there are special considerations that must be taken into account.

• The National Institute on Drug Abuse defines addiction as a persistent and recurrent condition in which the sufferer constantly or repeatedly seeks the substance and uses it despite experiencing harmful effects.
• These groups can provide you with a sense of community and help you understand that you are not alone in your struggles.
• You’ve probably already suggested therapy, and they’ve likely declined.
• Some alcoholics are highly functioning and able to maintain employment during the work day and become intoxicated most evenings and weekends.

Substance abuse can impact the financial support obligations, as well as any arrangements you make during your separation. That is true whether the alcoholic spouse provides the family’s financial support or their habitual or continual abuse prevents them from working, and you support them. I applaud people battling substance abuse and pursuing sobriety, and those who no longer abuse alcohol or substances. But the reality for a lot of women is an alcoholic spouse with a chronic illness who never seeks sobriety. The most important thing for women and their minor children is security, both personal and financial. Whether you have an alcoholic spouse, partner or other loved one, you may be wondering how to help.

• As a family law attorney, I recommend that both parties should be aware of their respective rights and interests in order to ensure that the divorce process goes smoothly.
• You might hope to persuade them to seek professional help, which is a positive step.
• However, there are some general ways alcoholism can make divorce more difficult.
• This means that people who are alcoholics can’t just stop drinking and be cured.
• If coverage is denied, appeal with comprehensive documentation and persistence to secure necessary treatment.
• Professional counseling can also be helpful in managing stress and understanding the effects of alcohol on relationships.

Divorcing an Alcoholic: How to Navigate the Process?

Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) and Alcohol Misuse, though often interchanged with the term “alcoholic,” refer to specific conditions that deeply impact a person’s life and the lives of those around them. Family court judges are governed by the child’s best interests when considering legal and physical custody of a child. Judges want to ensure children are looked after and live in a healthy and safe environment. Most of the time, divorcing an alcoholic husband isn’t the first choice of married couples. As a part of being husband and wife, it’s still our duty to extend the help that we can offer to fix the marriage. Most couples acknowledge that if you work at it, with some give and take, lots of patience and understanding, marriage can be a rewarding and fulfilling life-long partnership.

• Intervening in the addictive behavior may be seen as a threat to the family’s financial security — even if the family must put up with emotional neglect or physical abuse.
• But, in my opinion, it is much more difficult because it’s hard to see it that way.
• The primary goal is not just to establish a diagnosis of alcohol use disorder but to demonstrate the negative effects of a parent’s alcohol abuse on the child’s well-being.
• Dividing marital property and debts is one of the most challenging aspects of divorcing an alcoholic spouse.
• In this section, we’ll provide an overview of the legal process involved in divorcing an alcoholic spouse.

Navigating the legal complexities of spousal support and alimony when divorcing an alcoholic can be challenging. Seeking professional legal advice is essential to ensure that your rights and financial interests are properly represented throughout the divorce proceedings. By documenting incidents and behaviors, you can provide a clear timeline and narrative to support your concerns about your spouse’s alcohol abuse. This documentation can be invaluable during negotiations or court proceedings to ensure that the impact of alcoholism on your marriage and family is properly addressed.

Divorcing an Alcoholic Husband: How to Protect Yourself and Your Kids

Also, if safe and feasible, keep lines of communication open with your spouse. An amicable relationship between divorcing parents can significantly benefit the children. Having open and age-appropriate conversations with your children about the situation is also crucial. Reassure them that they are not to blame for their parent’s struggle with alcohol and that they are loved and supported. Finally, protecting your financial assets is another vital part of preparing for divorce. Ensuring access to all necessary financial information and establishing separate accounts can help secure your financial future and your children’s.

Similar to other diseases, addiction disrupts how a person’s organs function and can be extremely harmful. Fortunately, in most cases addiction is also highly treatable with timely intervention and appropriate medical support. If the addicted individual does not seek treatment, they may never recover and the addiction may lead to severe outcomes, including decreased life expectancy. You go to the doctor and get help, and everyone feels compassion for your situation. And, I don’t think someone would want to divorce someone because the person has cancer.