Marriage can be challenging even in the best of circumstances. When a New Jersey couple decides to divorce, however, there are certain issues that can make achieving a fair settlement difficult. For instance, if one of the spouses in question is a narcissist, it is far less likely that he or she is concerned about being fair or exhibiting a willingness to cooperate and compromise as needed, particularly if there are also children involved.
A narcissistic spouse may be self-absorbed but is also likely to have fragile ego. This might mean that he or she does not take well to criticism, constructive or otherwise. The individual may be prone to angry outbursts. He or she may see a spouse as an opponent in divorce rather than someone to cooperate with in pursuit of a fair outcome.
A narcissist is also prone to jealousy. This can spark problems in divorce when it comes time for property division proceedings. Some spouses try to beat the system and gain the upper hand by hiding assets, which is not only mean-spirited but also happens to be illegal. Any spouse who suspects his or her ex of attempting a hidden asset scheme may take steps to bring the matter to the court’s immediate attention.
Child custody negotiations may be challenging as well when divorcing a narcissist. Such a person is not typically empathetic and, therefore, may not be interested in listening to a co-parent’s needs or goals; rather, he or she wants only one thing: to walk away the winner. To protect one’s rights and to make sure that a fair settlement is achieved, it is helpful to request support from an experienced family law attorney rather than trying to go up against a narcissist alone in court.