Contemplating An Affair? Our Fort Lauderdale Divorce Lawyer Shares Four Questions To Consider First
Marriage means making a commitment to love and honor your partner while putting in the effort needed to make the relationship work. You may know this in your head, but your heart might want other things.
Emotional or physical romances with someone other than your spouse amount to the same thing in the eyes of the law: adultery. You may have justification, but the impacts can still be severe. If you are contemplating an affair, our Fort Lauderdale divorce lawyer shares four questions to consider first.
Four Questions To Ask Yourself Before Cheating On A Spouse
Feeling attracted to someone other than your spouse can leave you ashamed and confused. If you are facing this situation, know you are not alone. Marital affairs are shrouded in secrecy, so it is hard to get actual figures. However, Marriage.com reports that cheating happens in up to 25 percent of all couples.
The thought of an affair can take you completely by surprise, or it may be the eventual outcome of a long-failing marriage. In either case, you may wonder what to do next and be distrustful of who to confide in.
Our Fort Lauderdale divorce lawyer acts as a strong legal ally on your side in this difficult situation. Our top priority is ensuring your rights and best interests are protected. In dealing with clients in these cases, the following are four questions we recommend they consider:
- Am I ready to end my marriage for an affair?
The National Institute of Health reports that being unfaithful is one of the most common contributing factors in divorce. The affair itself may not be the primary reason. You can always end things if your spouse finds out, but lost trust is hard to rebuild.
- What are the possible impacts on my children?
If you have children, consider how having an affair might impact them. They may blame you for any ensuing divorce, or your spouse may use your indiscretion against you in child custody proceedings.
- How will I support myself if my marriage ends?
Is your spouse the primary breadwinner, or do they make significantly more than you? You might otherwise be entitled to spousal support in a Fort Lauderdale divorce, but committing adultery disqualifies you from these payments under the Florida Statutes.
- How will my affair impact my rights in Fort Lauderdale divorce proceedings?
In addition to child time-sharing and alimony proceedings, having an affair could also negatively impact you in terms of equitable division. This could mean getting considerably less than you might otherwise be entitled to in a marital property and assets settlement.
Request A Confidential Consultation Today With Our Fort Lauderdale Divorce Lawyer
The decision to have an affair is yours alone to make. However, Vanessa L. Prieto can provide the caring, non-judgmental support and trusted legal guidance you need to protect your rights. Before taking actions that could put your future at risk, contact our office and request a confidential consultation with our Fort Lauderdale divorce lawyer today.
Sources:
marriage.com/advice/infidelity/how-common-is-cheating/
pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4012696/#:~:text=Table%201%20presents%20the%20%E2%80%9Cmajor,these%20specific%20reasons%20for%20divorce.
leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0000-0099/0061/Sections/0061.08.html
