how a lawyer deals with a divorcee from a cult

by Jada Dooley 9 min read

Are cults legal?

Many might assume that cults are legal simply because of the First Amendment right to free exercise of religion. But, in fact, some cults actually are illegal. Others are protected by the First Amendment, but their activities may not be.

How can I help someone who has been involved in a cult?

If you have concerns that someone you know is involved with a cult, you have several options. There are a number of groups that are dedicated to helping families and friends find loved ones who have been indoctrinated into a cult and helping them leave the group.

What are some secrets your divorce lawyer might not want you to know?

One of the secrets that your divorce lawyer might not want you to know is that divorce proceedings are not used punitively. Sometimes, parties want to stick it to their soon to be ex-spouse as recompense for something they did.

Why is it so hard to regulate cults?

Unfortunately, most cults are driven by a leader or small group of leaders. These leaders can often change the tenets of the religion on a whim, making it difficult to impossible for law makers to get ahead of potentially dangerous groups or to identify standards by which a cult becomes illegal.

What are some secrets that a divorce lawyer may not want to share with you?

Below are twenty secrets that a divorce lawyer may not want to share with you. 1. It's going to cost more than you bargained for. It's not always the case—but more often than not, the costs associated with your divorce will often be higher than your lawyer's original estimate.

How to choose a divorce attorney?

There are several things to look for when choosing a divorce attorney. You want to choose someone who is experienced, respected, competent, and affordable. If they are proving to not be a good fit though, change them. Because you can, even if the reason is that you don't get on with him or her. Bear in mind however that if an attorney has worked on your case, you'll have to pay her/him for their time. Also, it might damage your case to change attorney's when you are close to a court ordered deadline, so only do it after careful consideration.

How do divorce lawyers save money?

That you'll save money and heartache by being organized. Divorce lawyers often charge by the hour. If you take responsibility for being as organized as possible, not only are you likely to walk away from your marriage with a more acceptable outcome, you'll probably save some money too.

What is mediation in divorce?

Mediation is a process whereby you and your spouse sit down with a neutral third party to negotiate several important areas of divorce. It's a low-cost way to address practically any other disagreement you and your spouse may have. While the mediator's decision is not binding, it allows a neutral party to provide their perspective on how divorce related issues should be addressed. However, mediation can only be a useful tool if you and your spouse can come to an broad agreement.

What does it mean to be uncontested in divorce?

An uncontested divorce means that you and your spouse agree child custody, spousal support, child support, visitation, and division of property. If you find that there is no need to fight over these things, you've already saved yourself thousands of dollars.

What is fault based divorce?

Fault-based divorce is when one spouse committed an act that gives legal justification to the ending of the marriage. These acts include adultery, a felony conviction, cruelty, or desertion.

How to start a divorce?

One of the best and simplest ways to do that is to start a divorce file. In this file, keep every bit of paper that could have an effect on how your divorce proceedings. Gather copies of all important financial documents and access to all account information. Keep it organized and easy to navigate.

Why are cults illegal?

This is due to the legal protections provided by the First Amendment freedom of religious exercise protection contained in the Constitution.

What is a cult?

Generally, a “cult” is considered to be a group of individuals with some common religious or metaphysical-philosophical ideology. Generally, this belief system is considered to be outside of the mainstream religions, or in some way radicalized.

Why do people oppose cults?

Many oppose cults because of activities that appear quite questionable. Examples may include brainwashing, strong-arming members into dedicating their belongings to the cult, undergoing unusual medical procedures, or a wide array of other conduct. However, just because one does not approve of the conduct does not make it illegal.

How are cults driven?

Unfortunately, most cults are driven by a leader or small group of leaders. These leaders can often change the tenets of the religion on a whim, making it difficult to impossible for law makers to get ahead of potentially dangerous groups or to identify standards by which a cult becomes illegal.

4. "The couple was divorcing on mutual terms, and the wife had one child with this husband and one from a previous marriage. Well, the husband agreed to pay child support for both children even though he wasn't obligated to..."

"The judge signed the order, they set up the child support account, and it got kicked back, saying they couldn't have two accounts for the same child.

6. "I read about a top executive at a Fortune 500 company who was caught in a nasty divorce. He was set up for life with a bunch of stock, houses, and assets in many places, and the wife wanted everything she could possible get. Well, the husband proposed that if his wife let him keep everything, he'd give her half of his paycheck for the rest of his life..."

"She quickly agreed because his checks were huge, and he received millions of dollars in bonuses. Well, as soon as the paperwork was finalized, he quit his job and started to work part-time at a sporting goods store! He would still drive to work in his expensive car and was still set for life.

12. "I represented a guy who was on his second marriage. His first wife had passed away from cancer. Well, while divorcing his second wife, he met a very kind, affectionate woman, they hit it off, and they became basically engaged..."

"Well, the fiancé was later diagnosed with terminal cancer, and when the wife found out, she accused him — in court — of killing his first wife by 'giving' her cancer and trying to do the same thing to his fiancé! I wish I had an artist's rendering of the scene, capturing the crazy look in the wife's eyes, her attorney's look of shame and embarrassment, and the judge's look of plain confusion.".

13. "I worked on a divorce in which the wife waited for her husband to leave the house on a business trip, then came to the house, turned on all of the faucets, plugged the drains, turned off the furnace, and left. It was -10 degrees."

"When the husband came back five days later, the house was ruined, and the water froze and cracked the foundation."

What to do if you push through divorce?

But if you push all communication regarding the divorce itself through your lawyers, you can avoid most of your spouse’s attempts to hurt and control you. Keep conversation centered on the kids only, not their custody, nor anything else related to the case.

How to survive a divorce with a narcissist?

Here are 7 steps to take to survive a divorce with a narcissist. 1. Keep yourself clean by steering clear of mudslinging. By joining your soon-to-be ex in this turmoil, you’re stooping to his level and giving him ammunition in his fight against you. And believe us, he’ll take all the ammunition he can get, even if some of it is made up.

How to deal with your ex?

Stay focused on your goals and bite your tongue as much as possible. 2. Communicate with your ex only through lawyers. This one can be hard to stick to, particularly if you have kids together, when it may be unavoidable.

What does it mean when your spouse is narcissistic?

A spouse’s self-centeredness becomes, somehow, attractive, pulling you back into his orbit. Before you know it, your narcissistic ex has convinced you you’re crazy, your needs are outlandish, or that your perspective is simply wrong. This often happens when blinded by emotions.