If you have been unhappy in your marriage for awhile, you are probably wondering if your unhappiness is a sign that it’s time to file for divorce. While no marriage is perfect, there are some clear signs that signal divorce is probably in your future:
Your spouse is abusive. The signs of physical abuse are obvious, but emotional abuse can be just as insidious. If your spouse constantly criticizes or belittles you, tries to control your every action, isolates you from friends and family, or tries to limit your access to money, these are clear signs that you are being emotionally abused. A divorce attorney can provide you with options for keeping yourself safe while ending your marriage to an abuser.
Your spouse is a serial cheater. Someone who cheats on their spouse regularly is more interested in his or her own pleasure than about being in a long-term, stable relationship. Unless a serial cheater engages in intensive therapy to stop this behavior, chances are that it will not stop on its own.
Your spouse is financially reckless. If your spouse makes large purchases without consulting with you, hides money, maxes out credit cards, takes out loans without your knowledge, or engages in other financially reckless behavior, divorce may be your best option to protect your financial future.
Your spouse is immature. Spouses who count on their partners to do all the heavy lifting in the marriage can make you feel like you married a child, not an adult. If you have a spouse who doesn’t pull their own weight, it can be exhausting to be the one who has to shoulder all the responsibilities of marriage and parenthood.
Your spouse is an addict. If you married someone who is an addict or has a mental illness that they refuse to seek treatment for, your life is probably chaotic. You should not tolerate living with someone who will not take responsibility for managing his or her conditions.
Your spouse won’t work on the marriage. A good marriage requires that both partners work equally hard to ensure the health of their union. If your spouse refuses to work on your marriage and treat you as an equal partner, they are not committed to the marriage.
When you are faced with an important life decision regarding a key family relationship, the advice and assistance of an experienced family law attorney often proves crucial to your understanding of the issues involved and your satisfaction with the ultimate outcome of your family law matter. Contact us today for your free consultation.
