Q: How can emotional/verbal/narcissist abuse be proven in court? And how can it affect divorce outcomes?
I'm living with an abusive narcissist - my husband fits the profile perfectly. I'm subjected almost daily to yelling, threatening. He has a violent temper but does not abuse me physically - he'll do things like swing to make me think he'll hit me but not actually hit. I'm carefully planning to leave and divorce. I keep a secret email for journaling. I have pictures and even audio recordings. I have a cell phone he smashed to smithereens in a rage. We have 3 children. I want to know how this could play out in the divorce. I want to be legally and financially prepared for the best outcome.
A: You give a lot of examples of how you can prove verbal and emotional abuse in your question. Your own testimony at court is the most obvious. Anyone who has seen or heard your husband be abusive to you would also be a potential witness. The pictures and audio recordings are admissible, as is the smashed cell phone. If he is trying to get custody or you are requesting that he be awarded only supervised visitation, and he is resistant to this, you can request an Amicus Attorney be appointed to represent the children's interest. The Amicus can talk to your children directly about what they have experienced. How much impact all of this would have depends upon what issues are being disputed. They will have a huge impact on custody if it is disputed. They might also have an impact on the division of property. There are many factors to be considered. You should schedule an appointment with an experienced family law attorney to ensure that you receive an accurate answer to your questions.
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