I’m 8 months pregnant and feeling overwhelmed. My marriage has changed drastically since I got pregnant, and I’m considering separating from my husband due to his mental health struggles. He’s been dealing with significant issues and has expressed that he thinks I should leave him because he fears he will be a bad father. While I want him to get better, he refuses therapy and only sees a psychiatrist occasionally.
I’m worried about my baby’s well-being and the environment we’re in. My husband has never been physically violent except for one incident where he cornered me while screaming, but there’s a lot of emotional distress that’s been hard to handle. He has said he will support the baby financially, but I’m concerned about his potential to seek 50/50 custody just to avoid paying child support. My state defaults to shared custody, and I’ve heard of women having to share custody even with evidence of abuse.
I don’t have family or friends nearby for support, and I would prefer not to leave our home because of my pregnancy and the nursery we’ve set up. I might be able to convince him to move out, but I’m unsure about my next steps after that.
What legal advice or recommendations do you have for someone in my situation?
If he threatens to hurt himself again, call the police or sheriff. Show them the texts and explain that he won’t leave. Tell them everything that’s happening. They can take him in for a mental health hold and make him get help. While he’s there, you can find a safe place to stay. Please keep me updated…
I recommend you act quickly and keep it simple. Focus on raising your baby as a single mom. Don’t pursue child support right now, and don’t put his name on the birth certificate. Instead, use your last name for the baby.
If you can, consider leaving the state and cutting ties with him. Focus on raising your child on your own. Keep his information for your child to know when they are an adult, but prioritize your safety and well-being.
Leave the state while you’re still pregnant because it will be harder to do so after the baby is born without his permission. Remember, he’s abusive, and it may get much worse. He might blame his mental illness, but that’s just an excuse. He is choosing to be abusive and has control over his actions.
