Going Through a Divorce While Addicted
Substance abuse can be a complex situation filled with shame and guilt, and you may have already suffered greatly from the effects and impact of your addiction. Unfortunately, you may have concluded with your spouse that your relationship will no longer continue.
Experiencing a divorce during active addiction can be a difficult and emotional situation, as you may be blaming yourself, struggling to navigate recovery, feeling lost and alone as you navigate this difficult situation.
Fortunately, going through a divorce when you are the addict/alcoholic does not have to be a solitary, shameful, or hopeless experience. The Atlanta based lawyers at Chambers Family Law are here to help you determine the best steps forward to help you with recovery and the ongoing navigation of your relationship with your family.
Substance Use Disorder Is a Common Issue Among Americans
When you are finally willing or able to acknowledge and admit your addiction and the impact it has had on your life and your family’s life, you may feel very alone. Your family may struggle to understand what you are experiencing, and you may not have the tools to help them understand. This can be a very isolated and overwhelming experience, but that does not mean you are actually alone or that you have to handle it all alone.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), around 14.5% of the population of people age 12 or older in the US suffer from substance use disorder. Substance use disorders can impact anyone at any point in their lives for many reasons.
Because these issues are so common, keep in mind that there are resources and support networks for people struggling with addiction. While many of these resources also focus on helping families navigate their own recovery and in that process help a loved one struggling with addiction, many other resources can help you treat your addiction and find long term sustainable recovery and sobriety.
Addiction Can Impact How You Navigate a Divorce
When you are struggling with addiction, the way you navigate your divorce may be different from many others.
The examples below do not have to be how your case proceeds. At Chambers Family Law we have the personal and professional knowledge, experience, and the tools to act on your behalf and help you navigate what you and your family are going through.
You May Feel That Your Life Is Out of Control
When in the throes of addiction, you may find yourself making decisions you would not ordinarily make. This can cause reactions of anger, resentment, and fear, leaving you feeling that your life is out of control.
Unfortunately, that means you may also be lashing out against loved ones, which can be painful both for the person on the receiving end of your anger, as well as for you, it can also impact the rest of your divorce proceedings.
You May Have Trouble Keeping Promises
During a divorce, you may be asked to meet several requirements. That may include filling out paperwork, attending meetings, or attending court. However, when in active addiction you may make decisions that leave you losing time or forgetting important tasks.
Those issues may impact the outcome of your divorce, including whether you have visitation or custody of your children.
Unfortunately, while some Judges or mediators may have some knowledge of and experience with addiction, many do not. That means a mistake at any juncture in your divorce proceedings can lead to disastrous outcomes for you that are extremely difficult, if not impossible, to reverse or modify. This is why consulting with an Atlanta divorce attorney that specializes in addiction cases is so very important.
You May Struggle to Balance Rehabilitation and Recovery
You and your partner may have already chosen to divorce, and you may already be taking the steps to recovery from your addiction. You may even currently be in treatment, taking the steps needed to help you find sobriety and sustain long term recovery.
However, your divorce may not wait for you to finish your treatment program.
That means you may find yourself balancing your time between your recovery program and your divorce. Going through a divorce during recovery can be an extremely distressing experience and can make it more difficult to focus on the work required for your addiction recovery.
Navigating an Alimony Agreement
In some cases, your spouse may pursue alimony, which is financial support offered to spouses who are unable to support themselves, especially when their quality of life may be impacted by a divorce.
For example, if you are the family breadwinner and your spouse is a stay-at-home parent, they may need financial support until they can get the experience or education needed to afford to support themselves.
When you are dealing with addiction, navigating alimony agreements can be difficult. You may find yourself struggling to cover the cost of addiction recovery and your alimony. That can lead to complications, debt, and more.
If you are concerned you will be unable to make alimony payments, you may need to reach out to an attorney immediately. Our attorneys can help those juggling addiction recovery and divorce to navigate the ongoing financial implications of divorce.
Divorce Can Impact Your Relationship with Your Children
As a parent, protecting and nurturing your children is one of your most important goals. However, if you are also facing addiction, this is can be more difficult and can frequently jeopardize your relationship with your children, as well as their well-being.
That can lead to distrust and distance between you and your children.
Keep in mind that the following details can have significant effects on how your case proceeds. Also, keep in mind that working with us to navigate your case properly can help you avoid many of the more severely negative impacts you may experience through addiction.
Child Custody Options and Your Children’s Best Interests
Child custody is typically decided based upon what is in the best interests of the children, including who has been the primary care giver, pursuant to Title 19 of the Georgia Code, and the parents’ ability to take care of their children.
Custody is comprised of two parts: physical custody, which covers the actual in-person care of and time with the children, and legal custody, which includes rights to make decisions about their education and health, among other things.
In many cases, parents may create a joint custody agreement, meaning that both parents are equal legal custodians and receive equal time with their children. However, as an addict, the other parent may be concerned about the safety of the children, and they may pursue primary, or even in worst cases, sole custody. That could mean that the only time you may have with your children will be supervised and limited.
That can be a shock, and it can cause rifts between you and your children, which makes the recovery process of addiction more difficult.
Navigating what is best for you and your children is a vital part of our legal services, which can help your family reach an agreement that works for all parties.
Addiction Can Impact Your Visitation Rights
Unfortunately, many people struggling with addiction act in ways they would not otherwise, which can be frightening or even dangerous to the people around them.
At your lowest points, you may have broken promises, made mistakes, or acted in irrational and dangerous ways that impacted the trust your partner had in you, which can affect your visitation rights.
Fortunately, you may have the opportunity to still have some visitation rights, depending on several factors.
We focus on helping people who are willing to seek recovery from their addiction to navigate complex legal situations, including protecting their visitation rights.
If you are a parent struggling with addiction and you are concerned about losing your visitation rights, if you are willing to seek treatment and recovery, we can help to secure your rights and create an agreement that works for all family members involved.
How an Atlanta Addiction Focused Divorce Attorney Can Help You
When you are already navigating addiction recovery, juggling a divorce can feel almost impossible. Not only is it a major financial decision, but it can also leave you pressed for time and energy to support yourself through employment and focus on sobriety through addiction treatment. In some cases, it can feel impossible to navigate.
Our addiction specialist attorneys bring compassion, empathy, and understanding to both sides of a divorce involving addiction. We offer legal support to addicted people who are struggling to protect their rights through a divorce while also navigating this changing relationship with their family.
These situations can be complex and challenging, even for the closest families. That is why our team focuses on providing tools for families to navigate both sides of addiction, both those experiencing it and those affected by it.
We provide the support and compassion many addicts need to pursue the best outcome for themselves and their families.
Get Personal, Compassionate Guidance
Navigating a divorce in Atlanta is rarely an easy task, but when you are also struggling with addiction, it comes with new challenges and obstacles that may feel impossible to recover from without the right legal support.
You may feel overwhelmed and unsure where to turn, leaving you in a difficult position. That is why we at Chambers Family Law are dedicated to helping addicts find their way into recovery and through a divorce.
When you and your spouse are considering divorce, we are here to help you navigate the situation, pursue addiction recovery, and protect your rights throughout this process.
We offer tools and resources that help families recover, both family members impacted by addiction and the addicts themselves.
If you are seeking answers and aid during divorce proceedings, reach out by calling 404-795-5092 right now to speak to one of our attorneys or filling out our confidential online form on our website.