Some divorce cases can quickly become contentious as spouses bring their relationship issues into their divorce negotiations. But in some cases, a divorce can go beyond contentious and quickly move into territory where one spouse plays dirty, going so far as to level false accusations against the other.
Typically false accusations of concealing assets, child abuse or spousal abuse occur with the intent to make the other party look bad and result in a better outcome for the accuser. If you have a spouse making false accusations during the divorce process, it is critical to work with an experienced divorce attorney to ensure these words do not harm your case.
Common examples of false accusations include:
- Adultery: One spouse might accuse their ex of adultery to pursue a fault-based divorce, or to use it as a reason to explain issues with finances.
- Child abuse: Spouses may throw around accusations of child abuse to get a better result in child custody proceedings.
- Domestic violence: A spouse may accuse the other of domestic violence, which can affect a wide range of factors in a divorce and make them look more sympathetic.
- Asset concealment: A spouse may falsely accuse the other of concealing assets, which can result in more favorable arrangements for alimony and asset division.
If you can prove your spouse’s allegations against you were false, they could face a variety of consequences. If they made those statements under oath they could be held in contempt of court and face criminal charges. Guilty spouses will also often be ordered to pay the accused’s legal fees.
For more information about how to deal with false accusations in a divorce case, contact an experienced Minnesota lawyer at Appelhof, Pfeifer & Hart, P.A.
