Divorce Tips When Your Spouse is Dangerous

 Posted on September 09, 2022 in Domestic Abuse

Nothing is ever more important than the safety of you and your children. When your divorce represents a greater effort to be free of a harmful person who puts you or the kids in danger, there is much more to your case than splitting up marital assets. It may feel like more of a dramatic escape than a civil proceeding. In fact, there may be nothing civil at all about your divorce except for the court it is filed in. A number of different issues can make your spouse dangerous, rather than simply unpleasant or obnoxious. If your spouse has been abusive, is severely mentally ill or a drug addict, or is engaged in criminal activity that could endanger your entire family, it is time to get out right now. Law Offices of Donald J. Cosley is skilled at working with those whose marriage has become unsafe in order to effectuate a divorce as quickly and seamlessly as possible. 

Considerations for Leaving an Unsafe Marriage

You likely already know this simply by virtue of having been married to your spouse, but divorcing a dangerous individual is not easy. Many times, the dangerous spouse will fight back, refusing to let go no matter how clear you have made it that the marriage is over and the divorce is happening. Some tips that you may want to consider during this difficult time include: 

• Protection order - If your spouse has inflicted domestic violence on the family (the defnition of domestic violence is fairly broad in Illinois), then you may be able to obtain a civil order of protection. These orders can force your spouse to vacate the marital home at once and stay away from you and the children. However, if your spouse’s criminal involvement is a concern, then it may be better for you to move out to a location where you will not be found. 

• Fighting for sole custody - In rare instances where one parent is deemed unfit or dangerous to their children, Illinois courts will consider allocating parenting time and parental responsibilities exclusively to one parent. In other cases, courts may use supervised and limited visitation. 

• Financial protection - One very common thing that abusers will do is drain the joint accounts and hide marital funds. This is often done as a last-ditch effort to stop the victim from leaving. Your attorney may be able to take pre-emptive steps to prevent this behavior, which is one reason that you should speak with an attorney before letting your spouse find out that you are pursuing divorce. 

Divorcing a dangerous spouse can be challenging. In many cases, working out an agreement with a threatening individual proves impossible and litigation becomes necessary. It is important to be well-represented throughout this process. 

Call an Illinois Divorce Attorney

Law Offices of Donald J. Cosley is skilled at helping Illinois families escape from dangerous or abusive spouses. Our Rolling Meadows divorce attorneys will make your safety and your children’s safety our number one priority at all times. You can call us at 847-253-3100 or contact us online, whichever is safer. We offer complimentary consultations. 

Source: 

https://illinoisattorneygeneral.gov/women/ordersofprotection.html