Your Spouse Is Breaking Down During the Divorce

Divorce is very stressful, and it is not uncommon for a spouse to become emotionally unhinged during the process. But you must protect yourself and your children during this time, as well as protect your financial situation. At Karen Ann Ulmer, P.C., we have the expertise to deal with all unexpected or difficult situations that may come up during the divorce process, including the mental breakdown of a spouse.

You are a good person, and you care. And your spouse is probably not faking it. Of course, as your lawyers, we’re going to ensure that the situation is real and not being misrepresented or fabricated to win the sympathy of the court. But if your spouse is having a real mental health crisis, you can remain very concerned for your spouse’s well-being while practicing boundaries and protecting yourself and your kids. In fact, taking legal steps now can also protect your spouse in the long run.

Protect your finances

The first thing you should do in a divorce is to sever all financial connections with your soon-to-be-ex-spouse. You should also sever all shared social or digital accounts. Change the passwords on your accounts, close all shared financial accounts, and open new accounts in your own name.

If your credit card or bank accounts are in your spouse’s name but you are also on the account, remove your name. If you are the primary holder, remove your spouse’s name. However, if it is a joint account, whether a bank account or a credit card, we will need to request a temporary restraining order from the court to freeze these accounts, so your spouse cannot withdraw money and drain your family’s finances while not in his or her right mind. You may even have to change the locks on the doors of the house.

These are important steps to protect yourself, your children, and even your spouse from future financial harm.

Seek professional help

If possible, try to get your spouse some professional help. You need your children’s parent to be emotionally healthy. Children thrive best when they have healthy relationships with both their parents. And your divorce will run more smoothly if your ex is emotionally stable. But remember, you cannot be your ex-spouse’s caregiver. You need to protect your own career and family and be able to give your complete attention to your job and to your children. Your spouse is an adult and needs to take at least some responsibility to care for him/herself. It’s not a matter of nastiness; it’s about your own self-preservation and your spouse’s self-direction.

Our firm has experience helping clients through difficult circumstances. Our primary focus is on keeping you, our client, emotionally and financially healthy through the divorce process. That may include helping your spouse get some professional support, but our main focus is on you. Request a confidential consultation today by calling (866) 349-4721 so we can get started right away.