Will a Judge Know if My Spouse is Lying During Our Divorce Proceedings?

 Posted on May 24, 2022 in Divorce

While most people feel that lying is wrong, the unfortunate truth is that dishonesty is very common. Even people who consider themselves honest may be more likely to justify lying if they feel the circumstances warrant it. In some ways, an Illinois divorce is the perfect situation to make someone feel like lying is acceptable; so much is at stake, and spouses often feel terribly wronged by each other. While the strategy of lying during divorce often backfires on the dishonest spouse, it can have serious negative consequences for the other spouse and their children. If you are getting divorced and your spouse is trying to hide income, fabricate tales of domestic violence, or otherwise mislead a judge in your divorce proceedings, you will need to take action to fight their lies. 

What Do Spouses Lie About During Divorce?

If your spouse has a history of lying, you can bet with near certainty that they will continue to do so during your divorce. Dishonest spouses may lie about many things, including, but not limited to: 

• Their income

• The existence and value of individual and marital assets

• Their relationship with your children

• Your relationship with your children

• Allegations of child abuse and neglect

• Spousal abuse, including allegations of physical, emotional, or sexual violence 

What Can I Do If I Know My Spouse is Lying? 

The strategy for handling your spouse’s dishonesty will depend on what he or she is lying about. Certain things are harder to disprove than others. For example, if your spouse is self-employed and you know or suspect he is lying about his income, your attorney can conduct a formal discovery process to obtain and examine his business records, bank statements, and personal expenses. But if your spouse is claiming that you physically abused her or your children, it may be your word against hers. You cannot take for granted that a judge will see through a spouse’s lies; having a great divorce attorney with experience managing lying spouses can help you bring forth the truth and persuade the judge that the whole story is not being told. 

Contact an Assertive Wheaton, IL Divorce Attorney 

When the worst of your spouse comes out during divorce, you need the help of a DuPage County divorce attorney who can help you fight to ensure a fair divorce decree. If you are considering divorce and worry your spouse may try to be dishonest, contact The Stogsdill Law Firm, P.C. today to schedule a consultation and learn more about what we can do to help. Call us at 630-462-9500. 

Source: 

https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs4.asp?DocName=075000050HPt%2E+IV&ActID=2086&ChapterID=59&SeqStart=3900000&SeqEnd=5400000