People get divorced for many different reasons, and they’re always personal. However, one of the most common and most heartbreaking reasons is infidelity. Finding out your spouse has been unfaithful can be overwhelming, but it can hit you even harder when there are kids involved. While you yourself may feel betrayed, it’s possible you could feel even more betrayed for your kids. A Springfield divorce lawyer can help you understand your options for divorce.
Learning that your spouse has betrayed your marriage and been unfaithful can cause you to spiral. It can make you question your entire marriage and make you think you have never truly known the person you were married to. It’s vital that you do what you can to not fall apart, as your kids will be counting on you for stability and reassurance. You can’t lose sight of what’s truly important. That’s why it’s so important to hire the right lawyer to represent your case.
Hiring the Right Lawyer
As you deal with the emotional, social, and legal fallout of infidelity, you will want the right person by your side the entire time. Choosing the right lawyer to represent your interests in the wake of infidelity may be the most significant decision you make for your case. At Stange Law Firm, our multi-state legal team has considerable experience helping clients deal with their divorces. We can provide you with a personalized and empathetic approach to your case.
Understanding the marriage and divorce rates throughout Missouri can provide you with some perspective and make you feel less alone. According to statistical data from the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, the rate of marriage in Missouri is not that high, at only 5.8 per 1,000 residents as of 2023. Similarly, the state’s rate of divorce is considerable at 2.6 per 1,000 residents as of 2023, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Moving past infidelity will not be easy. The discovery of infidelity may have damaged your worldview and changed the way you perceive relationships, which isn’t healthy. You should prioritize your own mental health during this trying time. A local infidelity support group like Infidelity Survivors or Healing Affairs can provide you with an outlet for discussing your trauma with other people who have been through something similar. They can help you start to heal.
Moving Past Infidelity as a Parent
The most important thing you can do right now is be there for your children. Coping with a divorce may never be easy, but it may be particularly hard when you are forced to co-parent with someone who has fundamentally betrayed you. Still, you have to find a way forward for the sake of your kids. Even if they don’t know about the reasons for your divorce, they will still feel the resentment and change in family dynamics. These are some ways to move past the situation:
- Though it is ultimately your decision to do so, you might want to consider telling your kids about the infidelity. You are the one who has to decide just how honest you intend to be with them about what caused the end of your marriage. As difficult as it may be, don’t speak ill of their other parent. You don’t want to end up dealing with an accusation of parental alienation that could negatively impact the custody agreement.
- Something else you can do is surround yourself with as much support as you can get. Take comfort in the people around you who want to see you succeed and move on from such a traumatic event. Your family, friends, coworkers, neighbors, and even some casual acquaintances may all want to help you figure out a path forward. You might want to consider reconnecting with old friends you may have lost touch with, especially now.
FAQs
Q: How Can a Divorce Lawyer Help?
A: There are many ways that a divorce lawyer can help, especially in cases involving one partner’s infidelity. While infidelity may not directly affect the divorce settlement, it can affect different elements. For example, if your spouse was using marital assets to fund an affair, that can hurt their split of assets. A good divorce lawyer can help you find every possible way to ensure your spouse doesn’t benefit from their betrayal.
Q: How Does Infidelity Affect My Kids?
A: Unfortunately, there are many ways that infidelity can affect your kids. Children are often more perceptive than you realize, and they can tell when their parents are upset about something. Depending on how old your kids are, you might want to tell them a sanitized version of what happened. Infidelity can change the family dynamic and turn your kids against the parent who broke their trust, even if you never revealed anything to them.
Q: Why Was My Spouse Unfaithful?
A: Honestly, the only one who can truly answer that is your spouse who committed infidelity. Everyone who chooses to cheat on their spouse does so for their own reasons. Those reasons are often selfish. They may even have convinced themselves that it’s your fault. Never let your cheating spouse convince you of that. It’s a choice, not a mistake. If you feel like infidelity has broken the marriage, reach out to a divorce lawyer to begin the proceedings.
Q: Can a Marriage Survive Infidelity?
A: Yes, it is possible for a marriage to survive infidelity, but only if both spouses are willing to put in the work to rebuild trust. Without trust, you don’t have a solid foundation for a relationship. Trust is often easy to break but very difficult to put back together. If your spouse is truly remorseful and you are willing to forgive them, you may be able to save your marriage. If not, you should reach out to a divorce lawyer and start moving on emotionally.
Contact a Lawyer Today
At Stange Law Firm, we can help you put together a strong case for your divorce following your spouse’s infidelity. Contact us to speak to a valued team member about your case.