Denton Divorce Lawyer

Cruelty as Grounds for Divorce

No one wants to come home to a malicious and harmful relationship. Imagine the fear and anxiety that would result from knowing that hateful treatment was waiting for you at home. The weight of that fear could be crushing. Yet what was once a supportive marriage can crumble into a damaging and hostile environment that can leave a spouse feeling trapped by a commitment to this hurtful person.

If you feel that cruelty has made your marriage unbearable, you need the help of an experienced legal professional. A person should not be expected to condone and live with cruel behavior, whether mental, physical or emotional harm is the result. Please contact a Denton divorce lawyer from Alexander & Associates at 972-420-6560 to learn more about your options during this difficult time.

What Is Cruelty?

In the state of Texas, a marriage can be dissolved because of cruelty of one spouse towards the other. The legal code states that cruelty can make a marriage “insupportable” and is therefore grounds for a divorce. The question that must be answered is what defines and constitutes cruelty. Some dictionaries define cruelty as “deliberate and malicious infliction of mental or physical pain upon a person”. The following can be considered either physical or mental cruelty:

• Embarrassment
• Emotional abuse
• Physical abuse
• Verbal abuse
• Tortuous behavior
• Withholding basic needs

These and other actions may be grounds for fault-based divorce citing cruelty. These types of behavior are not compatible with a healthy, supportive marriage.

Contact Us

For more information about fault-based divorce and divorce because of cruelty, please contact the experienced Denton divorce lawyers of Alexander & Associates by calling 972-420-6560.