Six Toxic Behaviors Common In Virginia Divorce Cases
Breakups are never pleasant, and problems in your relationship rarely get better simply by filing for a divorce in Loudoun County. Unfortunately, the situation may even get temporarily worse. This is why you need an experienced Loudoun County divorce attorney on your side, making sure you are protected. The following are six common and toxic behaviors that require legal help:
- Gaslighting.
This happens frequently in Loudoun County divorce cases. According to Psych Central, gaslighting is when your soon-to-be-former partner challenges your version of events in an effort to maintain control and tries to make you appear dramatic, insecure, or unstable.
- Acting like a victim and blaming you for all the problems in the relationship.
While you may not see eye to eye on everything that happened, attempts on the part of your spouse to frame you as the villain and themselves as the victim are toxic. This type of behavior can be particularly harmful in cases involving parents, where false allegations can impact child custody proceedings.
- Attempting to humiliate you in front of others.
This is a common ploy to maintain control and feel better about themselves. However, it is also a form of abuse and needs to be immediately addressed, particularly when it happens in front of your children, on your job, or in court.
- Refusing to cooperate with divorce proceedings.
It is frustrating to have a spouse who refuses to respond to a divorce petition and fails to appear for hearings in the Loudoun County Family Court. However, this behavior is likely to work against them in the long run. It can result in a summary judgment, benefiting you in terms of a divorce settlement, and may result in contempt of court charges.
- Using negotiations as a means of maintaining control.
In Loudoun County divorce proceedings, it is generally better to negotiate a divorce settlement rather than have a judge decide matters such as property division and child custody. In most cases, couples are expected to make a reasonable effort to reach mutual agreements, either through negotiations with their attorneys or by attending mediation. Negotiating in bad faith, making unreasonable demands, or other ploys at maintaining control are common but, again, likely to work against your spouse in the end.
- Making threats or engaging in harassing behavior, such as stalking.
Toxic behavior during a divorce can impact both your physical and mental health. When it rises to the level of threats and harassing behavior, such as stalking you at home or work, getting a protective order in Loudoun County may be the safest option.
Request A Consultation With Our Virginia Divorce Attorney Today
Toxic behavior in a divorce makes a difficult situation that much harder to deal with. At Schwartz Kalina, PLLC., we provide the caring support and trusted, local legal representation needed to protect your rights. To find out how our Virginia family attorney can help, call or contact us online and request a consultation today.
Sources:
psychcentral.com/blog/7-toxic-behaviors-you-should-never-tolerate#relationship-red-flags
vacourts.gov/courts/jdr/loudoun/home.html
loudoun.gov/1970/Protective-Orders
