Divorcing a Narcissist in New Jersey

• Conversations are all about your partner. Your views and feelings are rarely heard. When you do get a word in, your comments may be dismissed, ignored or redirected if they’re not in agreement with your partner.
• Your partner shows little concern for other people’s feelings, thoughts, and possessions. Narcissists have no problem borrowing items without asking, or routinely breaking promises. Little remorse is shown, and the victim is often to blame for the narcissist’s disrespect.
• Your partner attempts to impress other people by making themselves look great, either physically, materially, religiously, sexually, socially, romantically, intellectually or culturally. Accomplishments, objects and status are often exaggerated in hopes of displaying the message “I’m better than you.”
• Your partner feels entitled. Narcissists expect others to cater to their needs right away without giving any concern about the other person’s wants, needs or current obligations.
• Your partner is charming and incredibly persuasive. But once your partner’s wants or desires are fulfilled, they lose interest in you. When you have something he or she wants, you feel wanted and special.
• Your partner spews negative emotions. Narcissists get pleasure out of spreading negative emotions for the sake of gaining more attention and to feel more powerful. They may throw fits if their partners don’t agree with their viewpoint, or berate others for their opinions. Narcissists are quick to judge, blame and criticize others just to give their ego a boost.

These are a few of the many red flags you should be searching for when determining whether your partner is a narcissist. It’s important to remember that narcissists are largely unaware of how their actions affects others, so your partner may not be hurting you intentionally even if it feels that way.

Narcissists pull their partners in with their charming qualities, but further on down the road, their true nature rears its ugly head. Relationships with narcissist typically go through three essential stages:

1. The chase. The beginning stages of the relationship are all about impressing you. Your partner is doing everything he/she can to woo you. All of the attention is on you. You’ve never felt more wanted by a person. But it’s not your glowing personality, your career, or your values that your partner loves; it’s all about how you make your partner look and what you can do for him/her.
2. The transition phase. Once you move in together, get married or have children, your partner feels like there’s no need to make an effort. You’re now a part of your partner’s world; an extension of himself/herself. Everything goes well until you start expressing your own original ideas and feels. Verbal abuse, belittling and silent treatment are common at this stage.
3. The victimization phase. At this point, your behavior changes. You don’t express your feelings because you know your partner can’t handle it. Intimacy disappears. You feel as if you need to continuously walk on eggshells just to avoid conflict. You realize that your perception of reality is far different from your partner’s, but your partner refuses to acknowledge this. At this stage, your partner is denying problems and casting the blame onto you.

Narcissists can be verbally abusive, though that’s not always the case. Typically, spouses feel as if their feelings are never acknowledged, and their partners simply have no respect or concern for others.

Being married to a narcissist can be a challenge, but divorcing one can be a nightmare, especially if there’s a history of emotional or financial abuse. Narcissists can be intimidating, harassing and abusive throughout the divorce process, which can make your marriage seem like a walk in the park.

Narcissists are often in disbelief that their spouse is asking for a divorce. They may not understand why you’re “doing this to them.” Commonly, we see narcissists exhibiting abusive behavior in two key areas during a divorce: financial and emotional.

In cases where there’s a history of financial abuse, this behavior may continue into the divorce. Divorce can be particularly challenging in this regard if the spouse was the primary income earner. It’s not uncommon for narcissists to:

• Lie about their financial situation
• Be uncooperative during the discovery phase
• Intentionally hide or divert assets
• Seek alimony, or spousal support
• Refuse to pay alimony or child support, even if ordered to do so by the court
• Drag out the proceedings to intentionally drive up the cost of the divorce

When divorcing a narcissist, it’s important to choose your battles wisely. Know when to stand your ground, and when to avoid being dragged into an unnecessary fight. It’s also important to take court order violations seriously, and file contempt actions when appropriate. Punishment for failure to comply with court orders can include community service, fines, and jail time.

Narcissists can also be emotionally abusive during a divorce. They may threaten to take the kids away, or boldly assert that they will not pay you a dime in child support. They may even threaten to quit their job just so you are forced to pay alimony.

Threats are common with narcissists. They intimidate and harass, and often do so in front of the people who matter most. Yes, emotional and psychological abuse is the narcissist’s way of handling the divorce.

The key important thing here is to understand when to take action, and when to simply let it go. If there is a real threat to you and your children, then your divorce lawyer can get involved and a court order may be required. In some cases, you may file for a restraining order.