Adultery is an innate violation of marital vows. A spouse who cheats on their partner fails to uphold their promise to be faithful and to reject all others in favor of their spouse. That betrayal alone can have devastating long-term consequences for the other spouse.
People who experience marital infidelity often have a long road to recovery ahead of them. They may have a hard time letting go of their sense of betrayal and learning to trust people again. It may take months to end a marriage damaged by adultery, if not more than a year.
Divorce is not always a fast process, especially when conflict levels are high. Spouses who discovered extramarital affairs often want justice. There are several options possible under unique laws in North Carolina, including the right to take legal action against a spouse or their affair partner.
One spouse may also be able to hold the other accountable for the money wasted on an extramarital affair.
Cheating isn’t cheap
Conducting an extramarital affair costs money. Even one-night stands often require the investment of dinner and drinks followed by a room in a hotel. Ongoing affairs can cost even more. One spouse might start paying for a hidden mobile phone to communicate with their affair partner. They may regularly pay for motel rooms and meals.
Researchers estimate that those conducting affairs spend more than $500 on average per month on adultery-related expenses. Some people pay even more than that. They might purchase expensive gifts for affair partners, pay their rent or take them on vacations.
Typically, divorce proceedings in North Carolina are no-fault, meaning the courts don’t consider misconduct when dividing property or allocating parental responsibilities. There are exceptions for intentional financial misconduct, including the dissipation of marital assets.
Spouses who can identify and quantify the money spent on an extramarital affair can theoretically ask the courts to hold the unfaithful spouse accountable for the amount of money they spent on the affair. If they paid for affair expenses using credit cards, it may be possible to exclude the debts related to the infidelity from the marital estate.
Spouses seeking closure and justice when they divorce may need help understanding the law and taking appropriate steps to demand accountability. Looking at the practical implications of infidelity with a skilled legal team can help people pursue economic justice in the aftermath of uncovering an affair.