When a person drinks to the point that it has become a habitual problem, and that person’s spouse can no longer live with the behavior, the spouse may file for a habitual drunkenness divorce in South Carolina. This type of divorce is based on the grounds that the marriage is irretrievably broken due to their spouse’s habitual drunkenness. 

In order to qualify for this type of divorce, you must be able to prove that your spouse’s drinking habit has caused significant problems in your marriage and that you have tried to get help for him or her, but nothing has worked.

If you are considering filing for a habitual drunkenness divorce in South Carolina, contact an experienced family law attorney today at Sarah Henry Law. Your lawyer can help you navigate the divorce process and protect your interests. Schedule a consultation with us today.

Proving Habitual Drunkenness as Grounds for Divorce

The first step in getting a habitual drunkenness divorce in South Carolina is to prove that your spouse’s drinking habits have caused significant problems in your marriage. This can be difficult to do, but it is important to try to get as much evidence as possible. Some things you may want to gather include:

• Medical records documenting your spouse’s drinking problem
• Police reports if your spouse has been arrested for DUI or public intoxication
• Witness statements from friends or family members who have seen your spouse’s drinking problem firsthand
• Financial records showing how much money your spouse has spent on alcohol

Once you have gathered this evidence, you will need to file a complaint with the court. In the complaint, you will need to state specifically how your spouse’s drinking has caused problems in your marriage. Once the complaint is filed, your spouse will be served with divorce papers and they will have thirty days to respond.

If your spouse does not respond to the divorce complaint, you can still proceed with the divorce.

Habitual Drunkenness and Child Custody

If you have children, child custody will be one of the most important issues in your divorce. If your spouse’s drinking habits have caused problems with parenting, this will be taken into consideration by the court. Some things the court may consider include:

• Whether your spouse has ever been arrested for DUI or public intoxication while your children were in the car
• Whether your spouse has ever missed work or important events because of drinking
• Whether your spouse has ever put your children in danger because of drinking

If you are concerned about child custody, it is important to speak to an experienced family law attorney.

Get Legal Representation at Sarah Henry Law

Divorce is a difficult process, and it is important to have an experienced attorney on your side. At Sarah Henry Law, we can help you navigate the divorce process and protect your interests. Schedule a consultation with our lawyer today. 

Call us at 864-478-8324, or fill out our online contact form to get in touch. We will do our best to help you through this difficult time.