How Will a DUI Affect My Auburn, AL Divorce Case?
Going through a divorce is arduous and distressing in itself, but if you are charged with a DUI too, it could multiply your woes exponentially. With all the worry and anguish about your divorce proceedings already on your plate, a DUI would only exacerbate your misery.
It is important to remember that stakes are too high in any divorce case. But when you are faced with drunk driving charges along with the divorce, you need to have a knowledgeable divorce lawyer on your side who has experience in handling these types of matters. Let us look at some of the ways a DUI case can affect you in an Auburn, AL divorce case.
Additional Emotional Strain
Even if you and your spouse-initiated divorce proceedings by mutual agreement, a DUI has the potential to cause major disruption to the equation. The anger, frustration, and anxiety of your spouse could spill over and vitiate the proceedings, which might have been going smoothly up to that point in time.
A DUI charge could not only add to the emotional stress for you and your spouse, but it could also have negative repercussions for family and friends since your stress will adversely impact your interactions with them.
Additional Financial Stress
A protracted and acrimonious divorce can drain you emotionally as well as financially. The additional financial burden of a DUI case could stretch your already precarious finances and wreak havoc on your financial health.
A DUI case involves several costs like attorney fees, court fees, and penalties; thereby increasing the financial strain you are already grappling with as a result of your divorce settlement. Expensive divorce lawyers and other high legal costs associated with divorce proceedings can put added financial burden, eating away into your share of marital assets and leaving you worse off.
Another worrisome factor that could put you under more monetary strain could be your inability to work if a DUI charge results in you spending time in prison. Appearing for DUI hearings in addition to your divorce proceedings could also see you taking time off from your work and your pay being consequently docked.
Impact on Child Custody
When considering child custody and visitation rights, the first and foremost concern of a court is the safety and wellbeing of children. Keeping this in mind, the court is likely to decide against a DUI-convicted spouse, probably giving them no say in any of the major decisions regarding the child’s life, such as medical treatment, education, etc.
The child custody situation in your ongoing divorce case could be adversely affected by your DUI conviction. In such matters, the focus of the court is on whatever is in the best interest of the child. It could become very difficult to convince the court that a person with a DUI conviction would be able to provide a safe environment for the child.
Correlating with this, the court could use your DUI conviction against you while stipulating custody rights, visitation rights, or your qualification to adopt a child. Taking all this into consideration, it becomes critical for you to hire a competent divorce attorney who can defend you capably to avoid the repercussions of your DUI case on your divorce case or custody privileges.
A DUI conviction could also lead to you losing driving privileges, which in turn would have a negative impact on the time you get to spend with your child. Your spouse will likely push for sole custody in your Auburn, AL divorce case.
Complications and Negative Impact of DUI on Your Auburn, AL Divorce Case
A DUI on top of your divorce proceedings will, without a doubt, complicate matters inexorably in terms of the additional financial, emotional, and mental stress that it will create. This added stress has the potential to turn even a relatively amicable divorce into an acrimonious one.
Practically, your probation or jail time is bound to adversely impact your divorce proceedings, court appearances, work, and other commitments. The court’s decision on everything connected to your divorce, be it child and spousal support or custody and visitation rights, will tend to be in favor of your spouse.
Speak to a Seasoned Divorce Attorney in Auburn, AL
If you have DUI charges against you, it is vital that you consult an accomplished attorney to discuss the charges and their ramifications on your ongoing divorce proceedings.
At Alsobrook Law Group, we understand the repercussions of a DUI charge on your divorce. If you are facing charges for DUI, we can represent you in court, develop the right strategy for you, fight aggressively to protect your rights, and negotiate on your behalf to secure fair and favorable solutions related to your divorce.
To discuss your case with us, call us today at 334-345-2765 or contact us online and schedule a free consultation.
