Wife is alcoholic & is seeking separation from me.
divorce attorney Ohio Aug 23, 2026
As stated my wife of 25 yrs has been in and out of an inpatient alcohol rehabilitation center twice over the last 1.5 yrs. Shes been away from home for a total of 6 mo combined & is seeking legal separation. I’ve stuck by her side & supported her emotionally, physically and financially through a debilitating chronic disease resulting in the ultimate loss of her career, traffic accident where she was struck by a car on the highway as a pedestrian, resulting physical and emotional issues (PTSD) and most recently her dependence on alcohol. Our kids are now young adults so no custody issues. Because of her early health issues draining us financially we signed our house over to her father (we still made the payments) so on paper it looks as if we rent but I have receipts for major repairs, appliances etc. She told me during my last visit at rehab that she doesn’t feel supported so she is seeking a legal separation and told me “you have your truck and camper” when I asked her where she expects me to go and then added that I “have 30 days to leave before she gets back. My lawyer told me that you don’t want to fight this, because I’m on disability I’ll be awarded everything” including a large alimony. This has absolutely blindsided me, our 2 kids (21yo son still lives at home with us), our friends including her own aunt & uncle that 2 doors down and even her own parents. I’ve asked for couples counseling over the years which she turned down and have recently sought out and began seeing my own addiction counselor just so I can better understand what she needs from me when coming home. I was only invited to share in 3 family sessions last year at the rehab facility and one this time. Upon entering the facility the past May the medical staff “overlooked” her Prozac the primary depression medicine for over a month until she asked if they were giving it. (She averages approximately 16 different meds per day for her many issues). This time they have been doing weekly EMDR therapy to help with the PTSD from the accident as well as childhood SA trauma from a distant relative and kept from her family. Both times at rehab our CC info was stolen and while I can’t prove it I suspect is where her identity was stolen and used to purchase Obama care which screwed up our taxes. It goes without saying that I have struggled with my own severe depression and anxiety seeing her suffer for what’s been the vast majority of our marriage as well as the pressure to maintain and grow in my career so she has the best insurance including optional policies. I have been seeking separate counseling for that as well. I am the primary wage earner but she gets a little monthly from disability benefits. I have been messaging her daily over the last week pleading for her to just pause the separation so we can try literally dozens of alternative methods first but she only responds when she wants & I can’t see her unless the visits are arranged because the rehab is a locked facility. I have never threatened to leave or would leave her but it’s looking like I will be strong armed into a separation or else a judge will decide how to divide what meager assets we do have. We have no savings, I just paid off her car this month, I have a small truck payment and a few thousand in CC bills including the Lawyer she hired using my CC. I have been ALL IN supporting her and never imagined this would happen to us. I realize everyone is wondering what’s wrong with me and will tell me to cut and run! But this is not like her, we are a spiritual family and have weathered many storms together I didn’t even mention but even in the roughest patches we came through together without consideration of a separation or divorce. Question 1: I am screwed aren’t I? I would never want or try to leave her penniless, she IS limited but she is holding all the cards. She has the house I paid for that her father owns on his property, she’s on disability and we are nearing from what I’ve read the rest of my working life alimony. Are there any provisions or considerations legally to help protect myself because of her drunkenness which is documented in medical records from nearly dying this past winter from mixing bourbon with a handful of Atarax. Question 2: Is there a case for medical malpractice and resulting mental fallout this all seems to be causing? Location: Ohio
