If you feel threatened or unsafe due to your spouse’s alcohol abuse, it is crucial to take steps to protect yourself and any children involved. Many factors impact the relationship between marital instability and alcohol consumption. For example, a study by The University of Buffalo established that marriages end in divorce almost 50% of the time if one of the parties is a heavy drinker. The researchers also found a slightly higher divorce rate when the heavy drinker was the wife.

When Your Ex Is an Alcoholic

If you fear for your safety or worry that your children are in danger when your spouse is intoxicated, you have every reason to leave. In fact, it’s so common that 40-60% of people who’ve experienced violence from their divorce rates after sobriety spouse say that alcohol was involved. You’ve likely been through extensive back-and-forth with your spouse over this issue. Promises can be made – and even kept – for periods, but if you still find yourself asking if it’s okay to leave an alcoholic spouse, there has clearly been no long-term change.

No-Fault vs. At-Fault Divorces

Testimonies from witnesses who have observed the effects of alcoholism on the parenting skills of the alcoholic spouse can also be valuable in supporting your case. Remember, the journey of rebuilding your life after divorcing an alcoholic takes time. By prioritizing self-care, seeking support, and focusing on personal growth, you can navigate this challenging period and create a brighter future for yourself. When divorcing an alcoholic, it’s important to understand the legal considerations that come into play. This section will provide an overview of your rights and options, as well as guidance on navigating the divorce process. Support groups for spouses of alcoholics can be particularly helpful, as they provide a safe and non-judgmental space to express your feelings and concerns.

Rehabilitative Support and Treatment Programs

Through the stormy process of divorcing an alcoholic spouse, remember that you are not alone. Your strength and resilience serve as a beacon of hope and security for them as you navigate the complexities toward a safer shore. Therapists or counselors specializing in children’s mental health can provide your children with strategies to cope with the changes they are facing. They can help your children understand that their parent’s struggle with alcohol misuse is a disease and not a reflection of their worth or the love their parent has for them. Preparing for divorce from a spouse struggling with Alcohol Use Disorder can feel overwhelming. However, with understanding, professional advice, tools like Soberlink, and focusing on putting your children first, you can navigate these stormy seas.

• Deception and mistrust become prevalent as the individual’s personality may change drastically due to the influence of alcohol.
• When the best interests of the divorcing parents’ children are at stake, the allegation of alcohol abuse by one of the parents is a highly relevant issue demanding the focus of the Family Court Judge and child advocates.
• For the Cox proportional hazards regression models, the SURVEYPHREG procedure in SAS was used to account for the complex sample design of NESARC, using Efron’s approximation (1977) to handle ties.
• Beyond the financial losses, there are financial costs measured by productivity loss at work from hangovers and absenteeism related to drinking.
• Try to avoid inserting your opinions, especially involving your partner, and just focus on helping your kids process this complex situation.
• Highlighting the importance of assessing both spouses, previous studies found that discrepant drinking is related to subsequent divorce (see Ostermann et al., 2005).

Connecting with Support Groups and Communities

• For example, if your spouse has been violent or neglectful due to their drinking problem, then this may be used by you or your attorney as evidence in proving why certain decisions should be made in favor of you or against them.
• Divorcing an alcoholic spouse can have a significant impact on your finances, especially when it comes to alimony and child support payments.
• Furthermore, there’s a stigma linked with alcoholism, so you may feel like you can’t talk openly about the situation with friends and family.

In practice it is difficult to identify the specific sources of nonshared environment; thus, nonshared environmental covariance would only be consistent with (but not proof of) causal effects (32). Credible and reliable evidence of a party’s excessive alcohol use will persuade a Family Court Judge to restrict their access to the couple’s children unless their sobriety can be assured. Alcohol abuse or misuse refers to a pattern of excessive alcohol consumption that results in harm to the individual and their family relationships and interferes with their ability to fulfill responsibilities. As you prepare for divorce, it’s also essential to seek professional advice. Lawyers with experience in handling cases of divorcing an alcoholic spouse can provide invaluable insight into the process and what to expect in court. Therapists or counselors can provide emotional support and guidance for you and your children during this challenging time.

The legal system aims to protect the child’s interests by carefully scrutinizing the parenting capabilities of an alcohol-dependent parent. One spouse may squander shared resources, thereby impacting the financial stability of the other party. Courts may consider this, potentially altering the division to favor the non-offending spouse. It is important for individuals in no-fault divorce states to understand that while alcoholism may not be a direct ground for divorce, its consequences can permeate the divorce process. Legal guidance is often recommended to navigate these complexities effectively.

What Should I Do If My Spouse Refuses To Get Help For Their Alcoholism?

• Many states adhere to a no-fault approach, not considering spousal behavior in asset division.
• Remember, every divorce case is unique, and it’s essential to consult with a legal professional who can provide personalized advice based on your specific situation.
• But rules are made to be broken, and while I followed the various plans enough of the time to give my wife hope, I got drunk and belligerent often enough to crush her soul.

States such as California and Washington exemplify the no-fault divorce approach. There, residents can file for divorce citing “irreconcilable differences” without demonstrating fault. However, in these cases, evidence of a spouse’s alcoholism might still play a significant role in other aspects of the divorce. For example, this evidence might be used to determine asset division and custody arrangements. Courts may consider a spouse’s alcoholism when determining the best interests of the child.