Divorce is never easy, but it is much more challenging when a narcissist is involved. People with narcissistic personality disorder are manipulative with an inflated sense of self-importance. Narcissists are also easily provoked and rarely empathetic, which makes them combative and uncooperative during divorce proceedings. Does this sound familiar? If so, follow these helpful tips for divorcing a narcissist:
Gather Financial Documents Before Filing For Divorce
Narcissists often try to hide assets during a divorce to prevent their spouse from getting their fair share. Make sure this doesn’t happen to you by gathering financial documents prior to filing for divorce. At this point, your spouse will not know that you are thinking about filing for divorce, so he will not have started to hide his assets yet. Make copies of these documents and hide them at a trusted friend’s house so your spouse does not stumble upon them before you’ve filed the divorce paperwork.
Start Saving Money
Narcissists feed off of drama, so they usually enjoy taking their divorce to court and dragging it out for as long as possible. Because of this, it’s important to start saving cash so you have enough to cover the legal expenses associated with a drawn-out court battle.
Control Your Emotions
Throughout the divorce proceedings, a narcissist spouse will try to push your buttons by making false accusations, asking for too much, or blaming the divorce on you. As hard as it may seem, try to remember that your narcissist spouse is simply doing this to get a reaction out of you. Don’t give him what he wants. Stay in control of your emotions–especially when you are in front of the judge. Eventually, the judge will start to see right through his plan to provoke you.
Find An Experienced Attorney
It takes a uniquely skilled attorney to handle a divorce with a narcissist. As you start scheduling consultations with attorneys, make sure you ask whether or not they have experience with cases involving narcissists. Find an attorney who knows exactly what to expect from a narcissist–and more importantly, an attorney who knows how to get what you want from your narcissist spouse.
Are you preparing to divorce a narcissist? If so, Williams Law Group, LLC can help. Our skilled attorneys will not allow a narcissist spouse to control the divorce proceedings or your future. Call our office at (908) 810-1083, email us at info@awilliamslawgroup.com, or contact us through our confidential online form to schedule a consultation.
