Is Domestic Violence Grounds for Divorce in Oklahoma?

When your marital relationship is not working out and divorce is the best option, moving forward will be dictated by the laws that exist in your state. In Oklahoma, if you have certain grounds or legitimate reasons for ending a marriage, you will be permitted to do so. Of the viable motives to end a marriage, domestic violence is certainly one of them.

If you have been victimized by domestic abuse, your request to dissolve your marriage is feasible. Oklahoma divorce laws outline several different grounds for ending a marriage including extreme cruelty. This is where domestic violence falls. 

Going through a divorce can be highly emotional and stressful, and this is especially so when the added element of abuse is present. For help with your Oklahoma divorce, the Oklahoma City divorce lawyers at the Putnam Law Office are here for you and can help you throughout the entire process.

How Domestic Violence Impacts Divorce in Oklahoma

According to the United States Department of Justice, domestic violence is defined as abusive behavior where one party tries to have power and control over the other. Domestic abuse can come in many different forms including:

• Physical: Biting, punching, hitting, forcing drugs or alcohol on one party, not providing medical care, and other physical bodily abuse.
• Sexual: Trying to or forcing sexual activity on an unwilling and non-consenting party.
• Emotional: Regularly belittling, criticizing, or condemning a party.
• Economic: Manipulating and restraining one party’s ability to have access to financial resources that they have the right to.
• Psychological: Intimidation and causing deep fear in a party.
• Technological: Tracking, controlling, or exploiting a party through technology.

Abuse is destructive and is not to be tolerated. Yet, there are many who live in a marriage where constant abuse is suffered. When one partner is under an immediate and significant threat of harm, it is recommended to remove one’s self from their shared home and to seek the help of law enforcement. 

Not only will domestic violence be an accepted means to terminate a marriage, but it can also impact child custody. Oklahoma takes the welfare and safety of children very seriously. The state will always consider the best interests of the child. As a result, the presence of domestic abuse can limit one partner’s access to children or deny access to them completely.

Residents of Oklahoma that suffer domestic violence are not without resources. The state offers a toll-free hotline that victims can call. The number is 1-800-522-7233. Additionally, the Oklahoma Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault provides further information and support.

Speak with an Oklahoma City Divorce Attorney 

Your safety and the safety of your children are of the utmost importance, and when domestic abuse is a reality in your marital relationship, removing yourself and your children from the situation is imperative. You do not have to stay in a marriage where you are being harmed. For more help and assistance with the divorce process in Oklahoma, you connect with the Oklahoma family law attorneys at the Putnam Law Office to schedule a free consultation. Please call 405-724-7701.