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Specialty tag(s): High Conflict Divorce
Beth E. Maultsby | January 21, 2015
The best indicator that your divorce is going to be difficult is a realistic view of your marriage. If a marriage has been filled with chronic conflict, then you should expect the divorce process to also be filled with conflict. In almost every high conflict case, the driving force fueling the conflict is a spouse who has a personality disorder or traits that result in a high conflict personality.
A personality disorder is a clinical term used to describe individuals who have long-term and enduring personality styles that are defined by difficulties in the person’s subjective, internal sense of identity, and chronic difficulties in his/ her interpersonal relationships.The most common personality disorders seen in high conflict family law matters are Cluster B Personality Disorders which consist of Borderline Personality Disorder, Narcissistic Personality Disorder, Histrionic Personality Disorder and Antisocial Personality Disorder.
If your spouse possesses many of the following characteristics, then any skilled divorce attorney can tell you there is a strong likelihood that your spouse has a personality disorder and a high conflict personality that will result in making the divorce difficult for everyone involved:
Living with a spouse with a high conflict personality is like living on an emotional roller coaster because your spouse has two personalities – one charming and adoring the other dysfunctional and destructive. This dual personality is the result of a pattern of behavior called “splitting” which is often present in individuals with Cluster B Personality Disorders. Splitting causes a person to unconsciously view others as all “good” or all “bad”. As a result, the high conflict person will alternate between over-idealizing and devaluing the same person.
In the relationship with a high conflict spouse with a Cluster B Personality Disorder, the person first idolizes his/her partner and puts he/she on a pedestal. When the partner cannot meet his/her demands, the relationship begins to unravel and the high conflict spouse knocks his/her partner off the pedestal and begins to see the partner as all bad.
When a divorce or custody action is filed, the high conflict spouse feels threatened and will see the other party as all bad and will feel justified in engaging in the following types of behaviors:
If you find yourself in a high-conflict marriage, the resolution of your divorce will be more about dealing with your spouse’s personality issues than it will be about legal issues. In order to protect yourself during the divorce process, it is critical to educate yourself on how to be prepared to deal with the high conflict pattern of behavior that results from splitting and retaining legal representation from a skilled Austin, Dallas, or Plano divorce attorney who understands the high conflict personality.
Our attorneys are experienced in all aspects of family law and will guide you through each step of the process, ensuring you have the information you need to make wise decisions and prepare for the future.
At Goranson Bain Ausley, we strive to deliver clarity about what comes next and confidence that you and your family’s future are more secure. Contact our team and discover how we can help you.
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Save time and costs. Before your consultation, use our confidential online questionnaire to receive a personalized information pack in minutes.
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Schedule an in-person or remote consultation with one of our experienced family lawyers by calling us or filling out the “contact us” form.