A petition for divorce in the State of South Carolina can happen in one of two ways: Either one party is at-fault, through adultery or infidelity, habitual drunkenness or drug use, physical cruelty or domestic violence, or desertion; or through a no-fault application where neither spouse must admit to behavior that caused the marriage to breakdown.
At the David W. Martin Law Group, our divorce attorneys in Fort Mill & Greenville, SC have handled both types of petitions, and overwhelmingly the source of both approaches lead back to one or more forms of infidelity.
Which can include:
- Physical infidelity
- Financial infidelity
- Emotional infidelity
While only one physical infidelity is grounds for an at-fault divorce, both financial and emotional infidelity are extremely damaging to a marriage and can be just as difficult to recover from as adultery.
What is Physical Infidelity in Fort Mill & Greenville, SC?
According to recent studies, physical infidelity is responsible for nearly 60% of all divorces throughout the United States.
Physical infidelity, or adultery, is defined in South Carolina as intercourse between a married person and someone other than that person’s spouse and is one of the applicable reasons to file for an at-fault divorce in our state.
At-fault divorces typically move quicker than no-fault divorces, because of our state’s legal requirements for no-fault divorcing couples to live separately for one year before filing for divorce.
Still, the details of an at-fault divorce must be outlined, which may include:
Our Fort Mill divorce attorneys will outline your unique divorce requirements to pursue the outcome you deserve during your at-fault divorce proceedings.
What is Financial Infidelity in Fort Mill & Greenville, SC?
To be clear, financial infidelity does not meet the at-fault divorce requirements in Greenville, South Carolina. However, spouses who experience the trauma of their husband or wife withholding financial secrets can diminish the trust of marriage.
Financial infidelity may include:
- Concealing income
- Making and hiding purchases to avoid an argument
- Not disclosing cash withdrawals from joint accounts
- Opening credit cards or bank accounts without the other spouse’s knowledge
Some signs of financial infidelity may include:
- Hiding credit card statements
- New personal or household possessions
- Refusing to talk about finances
- Signs of anxiety when the mail arrives
A recent study exposed that:
- 44% of Americans admit to financial infidelity against their spouses
- 17% of Americans keep a secret bank account their spouses are not aware of
- 12% of Americans carry secret debt their spouse does not know exists
Financial infidelity can easily lead to other marital problems, including lack of trust, feelings of betrayal, and serious money problems.
If you are not aware of your financial standing, it is time to have a real conversation with your spouse about your income, accounts, and how you handle expenses, so everyone is on the same page.
What is Emotional Infidelity in Fort Mill & Greenville, SC?
Unlike traditional extra-marital affairs, where one spouse is physically cheating on the other, emotional infidelity is the act of developing intimate feelings for someone who is not your spouse.
Emotional infidelity can occur between neighbors, coworkers, friends, and even online with people that have never met in person and may cause irreparable harm to the intimacy of the spousal relationship.
One common source of emotional infidelity is social media.
Platforms like Facebook or Instagram allows people to connect with old classmates, boyfriends/girlfriends, and even casual acquaintances that can manifest into personal conversations through direct messages.
When spouses begin devoting time to these relationships whether in person or online they are taking time away from their marriages.
While emotional affairs are not grounds for an at-fault divorce in Fort Mill & Greenville, SC, they can certainly lead to a breakdown in the marriage.
Contact Our Fort Mill & Greenville Family Law Attorneys At David Martin Law Group.
If you believe your spouse is being unfaithful in any capacity, and have questions about what divorce would mean to your family, contact our Fort Mill family law attorneys at the David W. Martin Law Group at (803) 548-2468 to schedule a consultation to learn more about your legal options.
Related Links:
- Avoid the Dangers of a “Do-It-Yourself” Divorce in Rock Hill, SC
- Can a SC Divorce Attorney Handle All My Family Law Needs?
- Can a SC Divorce Be Affordable? Yes, but if Spouses Want It to Be.
- Can Adultery Impact the Outcome of a SC Divorce?
- Can I Start Dating During the SC Divorce Waiting Period?
- Can SC Family Law Attorney Attend Divorce Mediation with Me?
- Countering False Allegations During a Divorce in South Carolina
- What are the Advantages of Divorce Mediation in South Carolina?
- When Is It Time to Fight & When Do You Compromise in Divorce?
- With the Holidays Behind Us, is Divorce Sign Ahead?
- Divorcing a Narcissist Requires a Plan, an Advocate, and an SC Attorney
