How to Prove Emotional Abuse in an Alabama Divorce

Recognizing the Signs of Emotional Abuse in a Relationship

Emotional or psychological abuse involves verbal abuse, threats of violence, or coercive tactics. Emotional abuse is often characterized by the following:

• Humiliating the victim,
• Attempts at controlling the victim,
• Isolating the victim from friends or family,
• Belittling or criticizing the victim,
• Gaslighting the victim,
• Controlling the victim’s finances,
• Withholding or denying the victim access to basic resources, and
• Undermining the victim’s confidence or sense of self-worth.

This is not an exhaustive list, and there are other forms of emotional abuse that exist.

Unfortunately, emotional or psychological abuse in relationships is much more prevalent than one might expect. In fact, according to a 2010 study on intimate partner violence in the United States released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 48.4% of women and 48.8% of men reported having experienced psychologically aggressive behavior by an intimate partner at least once during their lifetime.

If you are a victim of emotional abuse in your marriage, know that you are not alone. There are avenues available to you to end your marriage and move forward with the life you deserve.

How to Prove Emotional Abuse in Court

Before proceeding with your divorce, it’s important to know how to prove emotional abuse in family court.

Alabama divorce law doesn’t reference emotional or psychological abuse as grounds for divorce. Nevertheless, evidence of emotional abuse can be used as a factor to show that ending the marriage is proper under other enumerated grounds. Let’s look at some steps you can take to help prove emotional abuse.

Documented Incidents of Emotional Abuse

Keep thorough notes and documentation of any specific instances of abuse. Include the date, time, and location of the incident, as well as detailed descriptions of the abuse and its impact on you. Other types of documentation might include text messages, voicemails, or emails from your spouse that demonstrate their emotionally abusive words and tactics.

Witness Testimony

In addition to documentary and other physical evidence, another way to help prove your claims of emotional abuse is through the use of witness testimony. If any friends, family members, or coworkers have witnessed the emotional abuse, these individuals may be able to testify on your behalf. Your lawyer can use their testimony to substantiate and corroborate your claims in court.

Seek Help from a Mental Health Professional

Repeated emotional abuse by a spouse can have a drastic impact on your life. Don’t be afraid to seek help from a qualified mental health professional to help you work through the trauma. Seeking diagnosis and treatment is good for your overall well-being and can provide evidence to corroborate your emotional abuse claims. Your lawyer can use testimony from your therapist as evidence of the harm you suffered at the hands of your spouse.

Summit Family Law: Your Trusted Alabama Divorce Attorneys

Proving emotional or mental abuse in court is no easy task. But having the right team in your corner can make a world of difference. An experienced family law and divorce attorney can help you prove the existence of emotional abuse in your marriage by:

• Gathering evidence to help support your claims,
• Identifying and preparing potential witnesses who may be able to testify on your behalf,
• Analyzing the law and relevant facts pertaining to your case,
• Drafting and filing important court documents, and
• Appearing in court on your behalf to present the best case possible.

At Summit Family Law, we are committed to helping our clients overcome their hardships so that they can move forward and build the life they deserve. When you hire our team, you can rest assured knowing that you have attorneys who will work tirelessly to protect your rights through every phase of the divorce process.

Please call (256) 859-7277 or contact us through our website for a free consultation.