Alcoholism that Leads to Divorce

It can have a debilitating impact on a marriage, whether just one or both spouses struggle with it. Between the emotional turmoil, communication failures, and financial impacts, alcohol use disorder (AUD) can make it difficult to hold a marriage together. If you are contemplating divorcing someone whose dependence on alcohol has made your marriage unbearable, you will need a meticulous and experienced divorce attorney by your side.

Tension in Marriage

All marriages have a certain level of tension at times, but studies indicate that AUD can have powerful and varied consequences for a marriage:

• Lost productivity could correspond to financial pressures.
• Health problems related to AUD may contribute to further financial insecurity.
• When one partner cannot follow through on commitments trust breaks down.
• Intimacy diminishes as one or both partners undergo an emotional withdrawal.
• Children may endure physical and/or emotional neglect, leading to codependency or behavioral problems.

Divorce Considerations 

Divorce is always complex, and those involving AUD can pose some special issues, touching matters including property division, custody, and shared parenting plans:

• An alcoholic spouse who mismanaged finances could find that history of behavior impacting property division.
• A divorcing spouse will need to provide evidence of AUD, such as receipts from recurrent alcohol purchases, social media posts, witness testimony, and the like.
• As the court weighs the best interests of the children, custody deliberations will be a chief concern. The emotional, mental, and physical welfare of your children will be the overriding consideration, and visitation may be based on an alcoholic’s regular drug testing, participation in treatment, and progress toward stability.

Your New Life 

Enduring the challenges of a marriage to a spouse who is plagued with addiction issues required strength, creativity, and determination. Moving forward post-divorce will be simpler on some levels, since you won’t be living face-to-face with the challenges that plagued your marriage. Even so, life will present new trials. Some guidelines to get through it intact include:

• Giving yourself space and time to deal with your loss.
• Amplifying your focus on the well-being of your children.
• Spending time doing activities that are new to you or reengaging with some that you’d left behind.
• Aiming to help others and/or contribute to your community.
• Creating healthy, robust boundaries in current and new relationships.
• Finding ways to relax and calm your tender brain such as meditation, yoga, spending time in nature, journaling, or walking.
• Addressing basic needs by getting plenty of healthy foods, rest, and exercise.
• Depending on family and friend relationships while creating new social connections in the world, as well.
• Creating new goals and measuring progress regularly.

The Legal Help You Need 

The ethical and responsive Boca Raton divorce attorneys at WiseLieberman always strive for the best possible outcomes in divorce. To discuss your situation, schedule a confidential consultation in our Boca Raton office today.