Legal Question in Family Law in Massachusetts

Cruel and Abusive Treatment

I need to know what is required as proof of cruel and abusive treatment I submitted as grounds for my divorce? This is emotional, verbal, and sexual. I have never had any injuries to get medical help for therefore no medical documentation or photos exist. Just Post Traumatic Stress Dissorder, regular psyhciatic vitits, medications, and I have just begun counseling. My divorce is in the works but have been told these charges are not provable. Should I also drop these charges?


Asked on 4/26/06, 1:18 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Barbara C. Johnson Law Office of Barbara C. Johnson

Re: Cruel and Abusive Treatment

At some point, you had intimate relations with your husband. At that time, you did not, I assume, believe him to be cruel and abusive.

Your going to counseling helps. Think positive. Thinking negative about him will be of no use to you when trying to understand your OWN inner problems.

With your alleged PTSD, you might even be -- wihout even being aware that you are -- being cruel and abusive to him.

As for arguing it in a divorce, it will only make it longer, more acrimonious, and a helluva lot more expensive. Think also the damage you will do to the children who are chromosomally half you and half your husband. You will be deprecating half of them and ruining their self-identity and self-respect.

Take it out of your divorce. They are not "provable" and will cause only unnecessary problems.

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Answered on 4/27/06, 8:42 am


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