Everybody going through a divorce ultimately hopes that it will be quick and uncomplicated — but things don’t always go that way.
Well, one 45-year-old Florida woman took an approach to her divorce that has now made national headlines. She and her husband had initially agreed to an uncontested divorce. However, her husband came home one day and announced that he wouldn’t sign the divorce agreement. He was going to take their issues into court. Contested divorces have to be litigated in front of a judge and frequently stumble over issues like property division, spousal support and child custody.
The wife’s response was to disappear into the bedroom and return with a revolver. She pointed the firearm at her husband, marched him back into their kitchen and forced him to sign the papers.
At some point, the husband was then able to escape to the bathroom behind the master bedroom with his own revolver in hand. He summoned the police by calling 911, telling them that his wife was still armed and trying to force her way into the bathroom. When the police arrived, they arrested the wife for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
Everyone, wherever they live, can take a lesson from this case: You cannot force a divorce settlement on your terms. Marriage is a contract that involves a lot of financial obligations, and divorce often requires complicated negotiations surrounding those obligations. If you and your spouse really can’t come to an agreement on something, don’t resort to violence or threats. You’ll only worsen your own position and create additional problems for yourself if you’re charged with domestic violence or assault.