One particularly ominous consequence of acrimonious divorces is that the spurned partner may try to retaliate against their soon-to-be ex-spouse by making false accusations against them.
These false allegations can be enough to cause decent people who have done nothing wrong to lose their jobs, and in some cases, they may no longer be able to spend unsupervised time with their children.
Signs you may be falsely accused by your former partner
Decades ago, researchers discovered common patterns in the histories and behaviors of those making false allegations against their former partners. Below are some of their findings:
- Allegations only arose after the separation or during the divorce
- Individual making accusations has a history of familial dysfunction and high-conflict relationships
- The person may have one or more personality or mental health diagnoses
- For sexual abuse accusations, the alleged victim is typically a female seven years old or younger
If any of the above resonates with your circumstances, you may be victimized by false allegations of abuse arising from your divorce or ended relationship.
Realize how much you have to lose
Do you teach or coach children? Do you drive the bus that carries them to and from school? Allegations of child abuse end those (and other) careers. Even if found innocent of the allegations, the mere fact that you were accused can be enough to bar you from your chosen career.
Do falsely accused individuals have any legal recourse?
Indeed, they do, but they must act swiftly. Being proactive about the possibility of having false allegations lodged against you is the best defense possible. Don’t wait until an arrest. Learn all that you can about building a stalwart defense against false abuse allegations.