Special Considerations When Divorcing a Narcissist
Narcissists aren’t always easy to spot at first, making it likely that you’ll be married to one before you realize the complicated situation you are actually in. Not only are people with narcissistic personality disorder tough to live with and be married to, but they’re equally as difficult to divorce.
At Buckhead Family Law, we understand that when it comes to filing for divorce from a narcissist, there are a number of factors that you need to consider during the lengthy, legal process. It all starts with understanding exactly how people with this condition behave.
What is a Narcissist?
Narcissistic Personality Disorder, also known as NPD, is a mental illness where the person believes that they’re better than everyone else, even though they actually have low self-esteem. They have little regard for others, and often use them as pawns. In addition, they use people as a means to prop themselves up and feed their own egos. As a result, divorcing someone with NPD isn’t an easy task.
What You’ll Have to Deal With
Once someone with NPD realizes that you’re going to attempt to divorce them, they’ll immediately start to love-bomb you. This means that they’ll act extra sweet, bringing you gifts and doing all of the “little things” that you’ve always wished they would do. They complete these actions in order to keep you with them, hoping that you fall for the act and stop the Georgia divorce proceedings. However, once you commit to staying with them, they’ll drop the act and return to their previous narcissistic behaviors.
After you end up in the courtroom for your divorce proceedings, your narcissist ex-spouse will do everything that they can to charm the judge and their lawyers. They will try to paint themselves as the victim and you as the guilty party. Your soon-to-be ex-spouse also won’t show any remorse or other feelings and will do everything in their power to try to control you even after the divorce, fighting for things like custody of your children and trying to withhold alimony and child support just to spite you.
Suggestions to Follow When Divorcing a Narcissist
Divorcing a narcissist is a possible feat, but you need to be diligent and pay attention to their every move, as each one will be deliberate and calculated. Here are a few tips to begin the process:
- Choose a good lawyer
- Start with an organized plan for escaping the marriage
- Write down everything that your NPD spouse does and have recordings if possible
- Don’t badmouth your soon-to-be ex-spouse (verbally or on social media)
- Have your children share their feelings with the court
- Don’t play into your ex-spouse’s petty games
- Lean on your support system and take the time for self-care
After Your Divorce
Unfortunately, if you have children with your NPD ex-husband, you’ll have to deal with him for many years to come. Make sure to keep recording everything that they say and do, and keep in contact with your divorce lawyer. In addition, don’t forget to take care of yourself, attending therapy and relying on a support group.
Need a Top-Rated Divorce Lawyer in Georgia to Help You With Your Divorce from a Narcissist?
Are you worried that your narcissist ex-spouse will become retaliatory during your Georgia divorce? Do you think that they may try to get full custody of the kids or do other things to make your life miserable during and after the divorce? If so, then you need a good Georgia divorce lawyer.
At Buckhead Family Law, our legal team works diligently to meet the needs of clients getting divorced in today’s tech driven world – this means taking everything online into consideration. One thing that hasn’t changed about divorce? It is still one of the most harrowing experiences someone can go through, and we understand that. That is why we always treat our clients with grace and compassion.
Need help? We are here to assist you as you begin the next chapter of your life while ensuring that all of the loose ends are tied up in the least complicated way. Schedule a consultation today by calling our legal team at 404-390-0000.
