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Our Los Angeles family law attorneys at the Land Legal Group know a high-conflict divorce refers to a situation where the dissolution of a marriage is characterized by ongoing hostility, intense disagreement, and often contentious legal proceedings between the divorcing parties.
These cases occur in California and across the nation, where divorcing spouses have difficulty communicating civilly, cooperating on matters such as child custody, visitation, and asset division, and may engage in behaviors that prolong and escalate the conflict.
The Most Common Signs of a High-Conflict Divorce and How to Cope
If one spouse is continuously threatening to “take the kids” or the other is a narcissist who is only interested in manipulating every aspect of the dissolution, high-conflict divorces and their interactions require skilled legal representation, to help put the conflict in perspective.
Sometimes, one spouse may not see a high-conflict divorce on the horizon. They may believe they know their spouse well enough that they will want to move forward with the least resistance. The problem is that circumstances change.
Here are a few ways to identify that a high-conflict divorce is underway and that you will need a skilled Los Angeles family law attorney to take the lead.
- Drug or Alcohol Abuse
If your spouse is using drugs or alcohol or battling addiction, it will affect their ability to have a rational conversation about important divorce details. If you believe your spouse poses a danger to you or your children when under the influence, talk to your divorce lawyer about the need for drug or alcohol testing, restraining orders, or supervised visitation to ensure everyone’s safety during and after the proceedings.
- Mental Health Conditions
If you have been diagnosed with depression or another mental health condition, and your spouse is threatening to use it and prescription medication use against you in court, chances are the judge is going to want to hear them out.
The good news is, if you have sought professional help for your condition, you are already on the right track. Being proactive and taking the initiative to ensure your mental health is a priority is a positive step in the right direction. Be sure to tell your divorce lawyer about all medications you or your spouse are taking so that no detail is left to chance.
- Deceit
Divorce and conflict go hand in hand when one spouse believes the other is hiding assets or lying about their income. The good news is that multiple ways exist to identify all income streams, assets, and financial holdings, so if their deceit is true, it will not last.
- Blame
Blame can, and usually does, go both ways during a divorce. However, California is a no-fault divorce state, so there is nothing to gain from consistently fighting with the other spouse about who’s at fault.
- Revenge
Some couples can accept that their marriage has ended and move on. For others, a spouse’s goal may be to seek revenge for feeling or being wronged during the marriage. The revenge may be emotional, financial, or both, and they seek to air out their grievances during the process.
Revenge does not have legal standing. If you believe your spouse is only prolonging your divorce to exact revenge, talk to your lawyer about it so they can help express your grievances to the judge and force the proceedings forward.
Contact Our Skilled California Family Law Attorney Today
Having a skilled California family law attorney by your side can help you—and the court—understand the details of your divorce and why it is so combative. We can help. Call (310) 552-3500 today to contact the Land Legal Group’s team of skilled family law attorneys in Los Angeles.
