Divorce is hard, but if you’re divorcing a narcissist, you can expect it to be harder still. In many cases, the best path forward involves having a plan in place and having a dedicated Fort Worth divorce attorney – with considerable experience in these highly contentious divorces – in your corner.
First Things First: Know What to Expect
While no one facing a divorce can ever know exactly what lies ahead, if you are divorcing a narcissist, there are some things you might expect from him or her:
- You can expect your narcissist to not simply get over it, regardless of the role he or she played in your divorce.
- You can expect your narcissist to not be above putting your children in the middle.
- You can expect your narcissist to create as much drama as he or she possibly can.
- You can expect your narcissist to lack the necessary conflict resolution skills, which means that alternative dispute resolution (ADR) options, such as mediation, are unlikely to work in your situation.
Where to Start
If you face divorcing a narcissist, it can feel like an uphill battle, but there are certain helpful steps that you can take.
Hire a Trusted Divorce Attorney
The first order of business if you are facing a divorce with a narcissist is hiring a trusted divorce attorney with considerable experience in this difficult arena. Further, working closely with your divorce attorney throughout the legal process is a must.
Document Everything
You can expect your narcissist spouse to lie – and worse – during the course of your divorce, and the only way to protect yourself is to document his or her every move (phone calls, texts, emails, and more) and to keep scrupulous documentation of every record pertinent to your divorce.
Don’t Respond to Drama
While your spouse will undoubtedly attempt to keep your divorce drama at a high level at all times, adopt your own calm response style. If nothing else, you won’t be throwing fuel on the fire, and you may be able to de-escalate a situation or two.
Take Care of Yourself
If you’re divorcing a narcissist, expect to play the long game, and don’t forget to take care of yourself in the process. Every demand from your soon-to-be-ex is not an emergency, and setting boundaries in this context is critical. Further, making time for friends, engaging in activities you enjoy, and slipping in some exercise can go a long way toward helping you cope with the very difficult situation you find yourself in.
Discuss Your Concerns with an Experienced Fort Worth Divorce Attorney Today
The accomplished Fort Worth divorce attorneys at The Law Office of J. Kevin Clark understand how difficult the situation you find yourself in is for you, and we’re committed to employing the full strength of our experience and skill in our efforts to help you obtain divorce terms that work for you and your kids. For more information, please don’t hesitate to contact us online or call us at 817-348-6723 today.