Divorce can take a toll on a spouse’s mental health, and some of these individuals turn to drugs as a result. If you believe your ex has become addicted to drugs, you may have various concerns. Perhaps you are worried about your young one’s safety. Maybe you do not want your child support or alimony payments to go toward drugs. Whatever the case may be, it could be necessary to prove the existence of this addiction, and a Georgia divorce lawyer may be able to help.
Why Might You Need to Prove Your Ex is Addicted to Drugs After a Divorce?
You might need to prove that your ex has become addicted to drugs if you are planning to file a petition for modification. The emergence of a new drug addiction can justify the modification of child custody agreements, child support payments, or alimony payments. In all three of these situations, a drug addiction could represent a “change in circumstance” – and courts may agree that things should change.
A new drug addiction could affect your child’s safety in various ways. For example, you might be concerned about your child accidentally consuming drugs left out in the open. Maybe you are concerned about your child coming into contact with dangerous drug dealers. Your ex might also have a tendency to operate their vehicle while intoxicated by drugs, potentially with the children.
You might also be concerned about your ex spending child support or alimony money on drugs. If you’re sending money to support your children, this money should go toward basic necessities like food, clothing, and shelter – not drugs. If you can prove that your ex is spending the money on drugs rather than their own children, you may be able to modify the agreement or even gain custody. Many courts will interpret this as a form of child neglect.
In the case of alimony, you might have similar concerns. By proving your ex is now addicted to drugs, you could potentially make direct payments toward rent or utilities rather than simply handing over cash to fuel your ex’s addiction.
What Kind of Evidence Do I Need?
You might need to collect various forms of evidence to prove your ex is addicted to drugs. This might include police reports, medical records, drug test results, witness statements, and much more. Speak with a lawyer to determine what kind of evidence might be useful based on your unique situation.
Can a Georgia Custody Modification Lawyer Help Me?
If you need to modify alimony, child support, or child custody in Georgia, it may be necessary to prove that your ex has become addicted to drugs. If this is the case, consider speaking with an experienced divorce lawyer. These legal professionals may be able to help you gather the necessary evidence to petition for a modification and put things right. Contact Lankford & Moore Law today for further guidance.
