Acrimonious divorce is often a grave matter. People victimized by the controlling, unreasonable, or abusive behaviors of their former spouses should work with a seasoned legal representative to build a case that would end this most challenging process.
At present, all states practice no-fault divorce proceedings, which do not require the divorcing partners to have any grievance with one another whatsoever. However, this does not rule out the possibility of conflicts that already caused the marriage to strain to cause problems for the divorcing couple. At times, even these may become complicating factors between former partners long after the divorce has settled.
Whatever the reason behind the divorce, affected partners should not face these cases alone not only to ensure that the divorce results in a fair distribution of assets but also to prevent other conditions from complicating the matter further. Residents in Suffolk County in Long Island, NY can rely on seasoned divorce attorneys to guide them through the challenges of a difficult divorce.
A Difficult Dissolution
Popular culture has characterized acrimonious divorces as comprising petty arguments over who gets what in the settlement. The truth of the matter, however, is often nothing to laugh at, with the reasons for an especially bitter divorce often being far deeper than one spouse taking the kids, house, and dog in the ruling.
Too often, truly unamicable separations involve horrendous mudslinging, slander, and often the residual resentment from past grievances. Because of the stakes involved, people often cannot solve these issues with their estranged partner through mediation, especially when the former partner proves to be exceptionally difficult to negotiate with.
The Nature of Acrimonious Divorce
When it comes to tumultuous divorces, it doesn’t just take two to tango. Although many especially acrimonious breakups stem from two very caustic former partners who end at a loggerhead, all it takes for things to get ugly is one partner who is unreasonable, manipulative, or outright abusive. If it wasn’t enough that the partner was this way during the marriage, the attempt to leave the relationship might become an uphill battle due to their refusal to cooperate during negotiations. In these cases, the only way for it to end is through legal action.
The fears that come with tumultuous divorces are many and varied. Most couples divorcing unpleasant or abusive partners are concerned about the matters of distributing conjugal property, with the fear that the difficult partner will refuse to acquiesce to the terms without the threat of further legal backing. Also, there is the matter of the safety and custody of the children involved. Far too frequently, abusive or toxic spouses would relentlessly work toward rulings that give them continued leverage over their former partners long after the divorce.
Divorce rulings do not always play out as pop culture suggests; an abusive partner would not, by default, take the property and the children without careful consideration by the presiding judge. Likewise, even young children cannot always be expected to be left in the care of either parent if one of them is found to be negligent of their needs. In cases of domestic violence, courts should decide in favor of the children’s continued safety.
Preventing Further Conflict
When dealing with an especially insidious former spouse, acquiescing to their demands rather than attempt to take matters to court would likely only lead to further trouble later on. For instance, an abusive former spouse may use parental custody to continue old abuse patterns using children as leverage.
Divorcing spouses that have been subject to abuse should work with their attorneys to win a ruling that limits the contact they have with the abusive former partner. Gaining legal protections such as these go a long way toward ensuring their safety and wellbeing and that of their children’s, especially if the partner relies on gaming the system.
