Substance abuse adds another layer of complexity to the divorce process. So, what do you need to consider if you’re divorcing an addict? And what if you’re struggling with alcoholism or drug abuse yourself?
Attorney Aaron Thomas is the Founder of Aaron Thomas Law, a family law practice based in Atlanta, Georgia. Aaron began his legal career in 2002 as an in-house staff attorney for Habitat for Humanity International. He also served as a trial attorney in the Dekalb County Public Defender’s office for four years before starting his own practice and shifting his focus exclusively to family law in 2007.
On this episode of Divorce Dialogues, Aaron joins Katherine to discuss how substance abuse impacts the divorce process. He explains how drug addiction and alcoholism affect a judge’s decision-making around child custody, child support, division of assets and spousal support. Listen in to understand how Aaron handles a case differently when he represents the addicted party and learn what you should think about as the spouse of an addict considering divorce.
Why substance abuse is rarely used as grounds for divorce even if that’s the issue
How alcoholism and drug addiction impact child custody
When (and why) a judge might award the addicted spouse a lesser share of the marital assets
How Aaron handles a case differently when he represents the addicted party
The trend toward seeing addiction as an illness vs. criminal activity
Why it’s exceptionally challenging to represent the spouse of an addict
The consequences of making your spouse’s addiction public in the divorce process
Why a judge might base child support on the amount the addicted party SHOULD be making
What a judge considers before awarding alimony to the addicted party
Aaron’s advice to the spouse of an addict considering divorce
The Center for Understanding Conflict
The New Yorker’s Guide to Collaborative Divorce by Katherine Miller
Email katherine@westchesterfamilylaw.com
Call (914) 738-7765