You’ve got some serious dirt on your spouse, and it would be great if you could leverage it to your advantage. Maybe you could use your insider knowledge to come out on top when it comes to property division, alimony or child custody…
Except that blackmail is illegal.
While only your Durham divorce lawyer is qualified to provide you with specific legal advice that pertains to your case, you need to know that threatening to use information against your spouse in order to get what you want is against the law in North Carolina.
Blackmail and Your Durham Divorce Lawyer’s Advice
No matter what information you have that your spouse would rather keep under wraps, you can’t use it against him or her to get what you want. Your Durham divorce lawyer will need to know if you have “dirt” on your spouse, and what it is, but not for blackmail. Your lawyer’s job is to provide the court with all relevant information and help you and your spouse reach a fair resolution through legal avenues.
What Constitutes Blackmail?
Something as simple as withholding your signature on divorce papers until your spouse gives in to your demands can be construed as blackmail. Perhaps you want your spouse to pay his or her half of your joint credit card debt before your divorce goes through, or maybe you want to be guaranteed a certain amount of spousal support. Talk to your Durham divorce lawyer before you consider manipulating your soon-to-be ex. Your attorney might be able to provide you with a legal solution to get what you want.
Giving Your Durham Divorce Lawyer Information
You should provide your Durham divorce lawyer with all the information you have that pertains to your case, whether your spouse has been evading taxes for years or has thousands of dollars of unpaid parking tickets. If your spouse is dating someone new, if he or she is addicted to prescription painkillers or is engaging in any behaviors that might impact your divorce, tell your lawyer right away.
Your attorney will help you reach a fair settlement without resorting to underhanded tactics like blackmail. While it’s understandable to want to exact revenge, use information to your advantage or make your spouse squirm, it’s generally not a good idea. Your Durham divorce lawyer can provide you with real, legal solutions to your issues so that you can get what you deserve during the divorce process.
