Divorcing Someone with a Gambling Problem

Divorcing a Problem GamblerPathological gambling can destroy marriages – and if your soon-to-be ex has a gambling addiction, you know it can be extremely difficult to deal with.

When you’re divorcing someone with a gambling problem, you face big challenges. You may even wonder whether your partner really has a gambling addiction or is just reckless and irresponsible.

Signs of a Gambling Addiction
There are many misconceptions about what makes someone a pathological gambler. Even if your partner doesn’t gamble every day or can afford to lose money, he or she might have a gambling addiction.

Gambling addiction is often characterized by:

  • Feeling the need to be secretive about gambling
  • Gambling when there isn’t enough money to spare
  • Having trouble controlling gambling

Why Gamblers Don’t Make Good Partners
Often, spouses and children pay the price for one person’s gambling habit. Bills may go unpaid, budgets may need to be stretched, and sometimes gambling even leads to the loss of a job.

It sounds like a typical cliché, but gamblers have to want to get help – you’re not going to be able to help your spouse quit gambling unless he or she realizes that it’s a problem and is willing to seek treatment for it. Even then, your partner has to stick with the treatment program and, in most cases, avoid gambling altogether.

What to Do if You Want to Divorce a Gambler
Talking to a Durham divorce lawyer should be your first step if you’re thinking about divorcing someone with a gambling problem. While well-intentioned friends and family are usually full of great advice, they may not understand the intricacies of North Carolina law.

Your attorney will be able to explain how alimony may be calculated and how your marital property (or debt) will be divided. He or she will also answer all of your questions about the divorce process based on your unique situation.

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