Houston Family Law & Divorce Attorneys

Law Office of Kathryn Marteeny
Call Today! 713.936.2300
  • Home
  • Firm Overview
  • Attorneys
  • Divorce
  • Family Law
  • Estate Planning
  • Blog
  • Contact Us
  • Call Today
  • Email Us
  • Our Map
  • Menu
Blog 2018 June How To Divorce an Abusive Spouse
Previous Post  |  Next Post

How To Divorce an Abusive Spouse

Posted By Law Office of Kathryn Marteeny || 26-Jun-2018

Dealing with domestic abuse can be upsetting and dangerous. Whether the abuse is emotional, physical, or verbal, it can cause serious harm to everyone in the household. Domestic violence often takes places between spouses, but the abuse can also affect children, stepchildren, and anyone else within the family. If you are in an abusive relationship and you are ready to get out, make sure you know how to escape the situation safely and successfully.

To divorce your domestic abuser, follow these steps:

1. Tell Someone

Talk to someone you trust about what you’re going through. Reach out to a close friend, a family member, co-worker, or someone else who you trust and know will listen to your concerns and help you. Speaking about your abuse can be helpful on both an emotional and practical level. Whoever you tell can offer you the emotional support you need and they might also be able to help you as you get out of your dangerous situation.

2. Protect Yourself

The most important thing to focus on while getting out of an abusive relationship is to keep yourself and your family safe. Even if your spouse has only ever threatened to harm you, he or she could become violent at any time. For this reason, it’s usually best to leave your abuser before telling them about your intention to file for divorce. Before you leave, however, make sure you have a plan to protect yourself and your children. Speak to your closest friends or family members to see if you can stay with them temporarily while you handle the most immediate concerns. If you have nobody to stay with, contact a local domestic abuse organization and learn more about your options through them. Many organizations offer free housing for victims of domestic violence.

3. Leaving Safely

After you’ve done your research and know what you need to do, make sure you have a plan. Leaving is usually the most dangerous part of ending a violent relationship, and your abuser will probably not cope with the loss of control well. So, to stay safe, find a time to leave when your spouse is not home. Gather your most essential belongings, including important documents, and take your children with you when you leave. Never leave your children with your abuser, even if they have never been harmed by your spouse in the past. Unfortunately, your spouse may attempt to use your children as leverage against you. If you feel you are in immediate danger at any time throughout this process, call 911.

4. Inform Your Spouse

Once you’ve removed yourself from immediate danger, contact a divorce attorney who has experience working on cases involving domestic violence. You will need to inform your spouse that you intend to divorce them, but in abusive situations, it is often much safer for the news to be delivered by a third party, rather than you.

5. Know Your Legal Options

When you talk to your attorney about your situation, they’ll let you know what your legal options are. In most cases, the most important thing to do is to file for a temporary restraining order. This can help protect you from your abuser, preventing him or her from contacting you, visiting your home, place of work, or any other place you frequent. Also, if you left your home, you may be able to obtain an order from the court allowing you to return to your home with your children while also keeping your abuser away. In certain cases, a police officer may supervise this transition to ensure your safety. If you have children, you can also discuss your temporary child custody options.

For more long-term solutions, like property division, child custody, spousal support, and permanent restraining orders, your attorney can walk you through your options and discuss a potential timeline.

Are you ready to file for divorce from your spouse? Contact the Law Office of Kathryn Marteeny to discuss your options with our Houston divorce attorneys.

Categories: Divorce, Family Law

Share Post

Divorce

How Can We Help You?

  • Child Custody
  • Child Support
  • Contested Divorce
  • Collaborative Divorce
  • Divorce Mediation
  • High-Net Worth Divorce
  • Property Division
  • Spousal Maintenance
  • Uncontested Divorce
  • Visitation

Contact The Law Office of Kathryn Marteeny

Put More Than Three Decades Of Experience To Work For You

Send My Information
  • Home
  • Site Map
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact Us
Law Office of Kathryn Marteeny
Law Office of Kathryn Marteeny - Houston Family Law Attorney
14701 St. Mary's Lane, Suite 315, Houston, TX 77079 View Map
Main (713) 936-2300
Website: https://www.marteenylaw.com
© 2021 All Rights Reserved.
Law Office of Kathryn Marteeny Law Office of Kathryn Marteeny @MartyeenyLaw
map of location
Internet Marketing Experts