The alcoholic may not realize they have a problem or may be reluctant to admit it exists. When you are living with an alcoholic, it can lead to situations that are stressful and frustrating, weighing heavy on your relationship. But how can you tell if someone is drinking too much alcohol? The first step is to understand the physical and mental aspects that constitute being an alcoholic. Having been in therapy talking about my ex’s alcoholism for at least 15 years, I am educated on the disease, probably more than most people who have lived with an alcoholic, whether it’s a family member or spouse. I remember hearing awhile back that alcohol addiction was the number one cause of divorce.

• Spouses may be in complete disagreement over what is actually going on within the relationship and if splitting up is the answer.
• In this article, I will provide an overview of the legal considerations that come with divorcing an alcoholic spouse.
• Most people do not have a network of expert witnesses they can reach out to for help with their case.
• They are a big part of why I do the work I do, for when my daughters were young, I lived in constant fear of dying and leaving them to fend for themselves, and I lived in constant fear of staying.

Divorcing an alcoholic spouse has its challenges, but with proper guidance and emotional support, the process can be navigated more smoothly. Seeking professional help from family law attorneys is essential when facing such a complex situation; they are equipped to evaluate each situation individually and offer solutions tailored to meet individual needs. Planning for separation or divorce is often the next step in protecting your interests and those of your children going forward. Understanding the signs of alcoholism is key when divorcing an alcoholic spouse. With the right resources and guidance, individuals can begin the journey towards long-term sobriety which can lead to healthier relationships in all areas of life. The effects on marriage due to alcohol abuse should not be underestimated as divorce proceedings may soon follow if appropriate steps are not taken for healing and recovery.

If your spouse is a functional alcoholic, they may be able to continue working and could even be the primary breadwinner for the family. Photographs depicted on this website are fictional customers and/or paid models or actors, and are not actual customers. Publications and articles are provided as educational material only. While every effort https://sober-house.org/ has been made to ensure their accuracy, it is not intended as legal advice as individual situations will differ and should be discussed with an expert and/or lawyer. By clicking on third-party links provided, you are connecting to another website. We have provided links to these sites for information that may be of interest to you.

When An Alcoholic Spouse is the Family’s Financial Support

However, alcoholism is a disease and there is a significant risk that it will eventually negatively impact job performance. Consider getting a child support and spousal support order in place before the loss of employment. When someone abuses alcohol, nearly all facets of life and relationships are affected. When finances, children, or emotional health are jeopardized, a divorce filing may be necessary. Before you separate, there are a few things you may want to consider and create a plan.

• Like all things in an alcoholic marriage, aren’t they in denial until the truth is inevitable?
• One question you may have if you are trying to get help for an alcoholic partner is whether you need to stop drinking.
• Torrone Law will help you fight an unjust system to get your life back on track and restore your family.

Here you will need tax statements, bank account information, mortgage papers, credit card statements and title information. Any court needs evidence when you accuse a person about something. So, collect some evidences to prove that your husband is alcoholic. You can take photos of any evidence of physical violence, such as bruises or broken teeth. Get all copies of police reports, emergency room records and other evidence that indicates your husband’s alcoholic nature. A child custody evaluator may also be used to help determine what is in the best interests of the child.

Gathering documentation and photographs of drug use

This can help you know what to document, what steps ensure your safety, and how to work through this process in the most efficient way possible. Different states have different laws that we have to follow as well as supporting our claim especially when fighting for the custody of the children involved. If you want to divorce an alcoholic, you need to gather all the evidence that you need to support the claim. If you come to the point where you have tried everything and you see that there is no way to fix your marriage, then you should get all the tips on divorcing an alcoholic husband. If there is a problem with your relationship that is causing your spouse to turn to alcohol, then it’s time to address the issue. Additionally, if your spouse is an alcoholic and has been convicted of crimes relating to their addiction, they may not be entitled to certain privileges in the eyes of the court.

It’s like she is trying to have a conversation with a bottle of wine. By Jackie Pilossoph, Founder, Divorced Girl Smiling, the place to find trusted, vetted divorce professionals, a podcast, website and mobile app. Gabrielle is an experienced freelance writer and Licensed eco sober house price Marriage and Family Therapist with experience using equine-assisted therapy. Alcohol can turn a reasonable man violent and this can greatly affect your family’s safety. This is important as different divorce situations require a thorough approach for each one.

Divorcing a Sociopath Husband or Wife

When people use the term alcoholism, they are typically referring1 to an alcohol use disorder, the medical diagnosis of someone with an alcohol addiction. An alcohol use disorder is a legitimate medical condition that causes changes in the brain, leading a person to seek alcohol compulsively, even when serious consequences result. It can also cause them to suffer serious health problems if they don’t get treatment. 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.

Signs of alcoholism include aggressive behavior, mood swings, hiding alcohol, poor work ethic, poor hygiene, and inflicting psychological or emotional damage on others. Speaking with a professional about staging an intervention and seeking the proper medical care necessary is essential to potentially save the marriage. Alcoholism and marriage are both complicated since chronic drinking imposes emotional and physical threats. There could also be problems outside of substance abuse that may cause marital issues. If a couple was experiencing a poor relationship prior to drug abuse, then a spouse may have turned to alcohol as a means of coping, including reasons such as lack of sexual satisfaction or financial issues.

I think open communication about alcoholism with my kids helps them understand, in the long run, that their father has an illness, that he isn’t mean or doing it on purpose. He is still a good person who can’t control his disease or admit he can’t. Additionally, talking to kids about the alcoholic gene they have could help them tremendously in the future when they begin to experiment with alcohol. They need to realize that, as children of an alcoholic, each has a 50% chance of becoming an alcoholic.

Find a good lawyer

Addiction experts will likely

tell you they are critical to understanding drug use history. However,

the general view is a court cannot order hair follicle testing without

both spouse’s consent. The amount of notice varies depending

on the situation although it is usually 4-8 hours. If you want the evaluation, you and your attorney should speak about

the report’s admissibility into evidence. The evolution of California

law may prohibit an expert’s report and opinion from coming into

evidence if the expert relied on case-related hearsay. We are not going

to discuss what that means here, as it is a highly complex issue.

Additionally, serious dependence can lead to life-threatening withdrawal symptoms including convulsions, starting eight to twelve hours after the last drink. The delirium tremens (D.T.’s) begins three to four days later where the person becomes extremely agitated, shakes, hallucinates and loses touch with reality. She came back to my house, and after a few days, she and my ex-husband seemed to be OK. Still, she continues to want to see her father because, after all, he’s her father and she loves him.

FAQs of Divorcing an Alcoholic

The functional alcoholic privately suffers but publicly shows little to no evidence of it. If you asked 10 different spouses who have gone through this experience, you may get 10 different answers. Fill out the scheduling form and set up your 30-minute consultation.