How to File for Divorce in Difficult Circumstances

If you’re currently in an abusive marriage or are feeling trapped with your partner, there’s always a way out. And it’s important to remember that if you are living in a toxic relationship, that will have a negative impact on your children’s health as well as your own. So while it might think the best option is putting up with the situation for the sake of the children, in reality divorcing your abusive partner may be the best option for all of you.

The thought of filing for a divorce may seem so far from reach, but seeking the appropriate help from family lawyers and dedicated organisations can help to put you on the path to a new chapter.

In this article, we’ll be discussing how you can file for divorce, even if you feel stuck in your current circumstances.

Abusive relationships and divorce

Divorce can be challenging at the best of times, but it’s even more heightened when domestic abuse is involved. Abuse can come in many different forms, from financial and emotional to physical and sexual. It’s important to remember that you have the right to leave a situation that you don’t want to be in.

There are legal steps you can take to divorce your abusive partner and keep them away from you. You can do this in the family court by providing evidence of domestic violence or other abuse within your marriage and why divorcing your abusive partner is the best option.

An expert solicitor will discuss the history of your relationship so they can demonstrate to the court any abusive behaviour displayed by your partner. It could be worth keeping a diary of any incidents so you can present a timeline to the court, and they can better understand the severity of your situation.

Types of domestic abuse

There are many different types of domestic abuse, including:

• Coercive control: This is a form of psychological abuse that aims to harm, punish or frighten the victim. The intention is to isolate the victim from any form of support so that they are entirely dependent on the abuser.
• Economic abuse: The abuser restricts and/or sabotages the financial situation of another person, prohibiting their freedom and making their victim suffer. They will use the control of finances to gain power and deny personal rights.
• Narcissistic relationships: Being married to a narcissist can affect the other partner’s mental health, self-esteem and trust. They use various techniques, such as love-bombing, gaslighting and manipulation to emotionally abuse their partner.
• Stonewalling: This is where the abuser refuses to communicate with their partner, otherwise referred to as “the silent treatment”. Intentional stonewalling is used to control a partner and manipulate a situation, purposely belittling them to increase the abuser’s sense of power.

Seeking help

Whatever you’re experiencing, you don’t have to go through it alone. There are several domestic abuse charities that all have free 24-hour helplines if you need to speak to someone. You’ll receive help from a team of highly-trained advisors who are on hand to listen, so you can discuss your situation in confidence and ask advice about divorcing your abusive partner.

If you are in immediate danger, call the police on 999 or the National Domestic Abuse Helpline 0808 2000 247.

You can also start a divorce online to get the right help from expert family lawyers, who will offer you excellent support and handle your case with professionalism and care. By seeking the right help, you’re already taking that first step to freedom.

Taking the first step may seem such a huge challenge, but ultimately divorcing your abusive partner should lead to a much better future you and your children, if you have any.