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Helping Clients Divorce with a Narcissist Spouse
Going through a divorce can be difficult, no matter your circumstances. There are many crucial decisions to be made that will affect you and your family’s lives forever. However, few things can impede your healing and ability to navigate a divorce more quickly than having a narcissistic spouse.
Narcissism is a clinical illness that affects many Americans. This illness changes how a person perceives conflict, works through disagreements, and heals following trauma such as divorce. Essentially, a narcissist will try everything possible to make the divorce more difficult because of their own feelings of pain rather than trying to find a solution that benefits everyone. If you are divorcing a narcissist, you may be in for a long road and many legal battles. However, there is hope for getting through your divorce and finding a better life ahead as long as you have proper legal representation.
At our law firm, we specialize in helping men and women who are divorcing a person with narcissistic tendencies. We have the skills necessary to advise you on how to handle interactions with your ex and get to a place where you can move on and heal from your traumatic experiences. Please give us a call today at 949-889-1227 to learn more about how we can help protect you legally when divorcing a narcissist.
How Does Narcissism Affect a Divorce?
By definition, a narcissist is obsessed with how everything in life affects them. Divorcing a narcissist adds an extra challenge because they are not concerned about others’ feelings or needs, even when it comes to their children. A narcissist may become extremely angry because they feel abandoned when you decide to divorce them, and they may take out this anger by sabotaging your efforts to find solutions and move on.
One way a narcissist can undermine the divorce proceedings is by using their charisma to influence a judge’s decisions. Narcissists are notorious for letting outsiders only see a certain aspect of their personality, making it seem like they are the innocent victim and you deserve all the blame.
Some issues that can be negatively affected by your ex’s narcissism include:
- Child custody, or deciding when the children will leave with each parent and who will make critical legal decisions regarding their upbringing.
- Visitation rights, such as how often a noncustodial parent has the right to see the children and whether the visits will be supervised.
- Child support payments, or how much the high-income parent will pay to provide an adequate lifestyle for the minor children.
- Spousal maintenance, also known as alimony, is paid to a spouse who is not ready to earn an income that will support the lifestyle they were accustomed to during the marriage.
- Division of the marital estate, including homes, vehicles, assets, and bank accounts.
What Can I Do to Protect Myself When Divorcing a Narcissist?
While it can seem hopeless to divorce someone who refuses to let go of the anger over the divorce, there are steps you can take to minimize the trauma you and your family go through during this challenging time. One of the best things you can do is hire a lawyer who can help give you the legal counsel advice you need. Your attorney can also serve as a powerful reminder to the court and judge not to be swayed by your narcissist spouse’s charm.
Some other strategies that can be effective when divorcing a narcissist include:
- Minimizing the contact between you and your ex-spouse so you don’t fall into the trap of thinking they have been victimized and that you owe them anything.
- Protecting yourself by changing passwords and having access to funds that your spouse cannot reach, such as a separate bank account.
- Collecting important documents so you have everything you need without worrying that your ex will withhold access to financial documents, passports, mortgages, and car loan statements.
- Petition the court for a restraining order.
- Choose your battles and put your energy into the issues that are most important to your well-being and happiness.
How Can Hiring an Attorney Help with My Divorce?
Having a knowledgeable attorney who specializes in divorces with a narcissist will be critical as you enter this challenging process. Your lawyer will be an important ally as you fight the false persona that your narcissistic spouse puts on before the judge. They can also ensure you have the legal protection you need through restraining orders.
It is essential to hire an attorney who is prepared to help you while divorcing a narcissist. Please don’t risk your future by relying on anyone who does not specialize in this complex field. Contact our law firm for a lawyer who has special training and experience in handling divorces where one spouse has narcissistic tendencies. Call The Bledsoe Firm today to learn more.
Should You Hire Our Family Law Attorney?
Divorcing a narcissist requires a strong will and a great deal of legal knowledge. At The Bledsoe Firm, we are ready to help you handle the issues that arise during your divorce, even if your spouse refuses to cooperate or purposefully undermines the proceedings. We can help a judge recognize the manipulation used and get you a fair settlement.
At our law firm, we promise to listen carefully to your concerns and identify ways we can seek your best interests throughout the divorce process. We will explain your options clearly so you can fully participate in every decision. We promise to be a solid ally you can rely on and turn to for advice, legal representation, and emotional support. Call our caring, capable legal team right away to schedule a consultation by dialing 949-889-1227 today.