Divorcing a Compulsive Or Pathological Liar In Phoenix, Arizona

Everyone has told a lie at least once, whether it’s a stretch of the truth or an outright fabrication. But when a lying problem gets out of control, that person might be referred to as a compulsive or pathological liar. Generally, such diagnoses come after a person has experienced significant turmoil in their relationships, career, and other areas of life due to their behavior. If you’re on TikTok, you may have heard about Reesa Teesa’s story of being married to a pathological liar with the nickname, “Legion.” His lies included working at a condiment company, having hundreds of thousands of dollars available in an offshore account for a down payment on a home, and even that his wife had given birth when she had actually miscarried. Her version of events recently went viral, titled “Who TF did I marry?” with 50 parts clocking in at more than 8 hours. 

 It’s easy to see how excessive lying could put a strain on a romantic relationship, especially if the couple is married. If the spouse being lied to can’t take it anymore, it may be time to pursue a divorce. Divorce is always difficult and it can be expected that both parties will withhold the truth at some point along the process. If you need quality family law representation for a divorce from a compulsive or pathological lawyer in Phoenix, call 480-680-9126 for your free consultation with our firm. 

What Is Compulsive Or Pathological Lying?

While some debate the existence of a difference between compulsive and pathological lying, some experts say there is a distinction between the two. Compulsive lying is a form of pathological lying, but not all pathological lying is necessarily compulsive lying. Pathological lying isn’t a condition recognized by the DSM-V. However, it is also referred to as “pseodologia fantastica” and “mythomania.” Regardless of the name used, it is used to describe excessive lying that causes harm to others and can create issues in the affected person’s life. 

The pattern of pathological lying usually begins in the teenage years. If left unaddressed, the behavior can continue for several years or even for the rest of that person’s life. Some pathological liars tell lies to achieve goals, while others might make up stories when under pressure or for no reason at all. Pathological and compulsive lying is often associated with psychological conditions such as narcissistic personality disorder, histrionic personality disorder, and antisocial personality disorder. However, it can stand alone with no underlying personality disorders or other mental health conditions. 

Compulsive or pathological lying isn’t a problem that can be solved with medication. However, a compulsive liar might experience reduced urges to lie if they begin psychiatric treatment for an underlying disorder. Psychotherapy is the recommended course of action, although it can be difficult to complete if the patient continues their lying habit with their therapist. 

How To Spot Lying In Divorce

There are plenty of issues that your spouse can lie about during a divorce, and there are plenty of motivations behind these potential lies. Your spouse may lie about income and assets to try to skew the financial outcome of a divorce in their favor. Your spouse may lie about your relationship with your children in order to be awarded primary custody, which can also affect child support obligations. In extreme cases, your spouse may even lie about domestic or child abuse to interfere with divorce proceedings. These types of allegations should be disputed swiftly to reduce the impact they can have on divorce and custody matters. Below are some of the behaviors you should look out for if you believe that you are in a dissolution of marriage matter with someone with a compulsive or pathological lying problem. 

Facts That Contradict Each Other

A compulsive or pathological liar may begin telling so many false stories that they can no longer keep track of all of them. This can result in lies that contradict one another. For example, a compulsive liar who is getting divorced might demand nursery furniture and other children’s items during property division, then in the future go on to say that they need child support to be modified to be able to purchase those items. If questioned, the pathological liar might respond that they never received those items during property division, or that they were destroyed or stolen, or even switch between both. 

Details That Can’t Be Verified

Almost everyone has a smartphone in the pocket that can be used to scour the internet for a wealth of knowledge. This can simplify the process of fact-checking someone who you suspect is telling tall tales. A pathological liar spouse might have a job (or claim to have a job) in a field with a high emphasis on confidentiality to explain why they can’t be located online. The people who could verify their stories may have moved to another state or have since passed away. 

Expenses That Don’t Add Up

One of the main issues that spouses lie about during divorce is finances. Your spouse may claim to need additional support during divorce because they don’t have enough money to get by- if their expenses exceed their budget, it may be time for closer review. Let your attorney know if you believe that your spouse is lying about their financial situation so they can take the appropriate action. 

Tips For Dealing With a Habitual Liar During Divorce

Whether lying is compulsive and pathological or simply habitual and opportunistic, there’s a good chance that you’ll need to know how to deal with lying if you’re getting divorced. Follow the tips below to avoid being taken advantage of by a lying spouse during a divorce in Phoenix, Arizona:

• Always request documentation: If your spouse states that their hours at work have been cut and their pay is going down, request paystubs. If your spouse owns their own business and claims profits are down, request a profit and loss statement. A compulsive liar’s word can’t be taken at face value, especially in such a contentious matter as divorce. 
• Hire a forensic accountant and other financial professionals, if necessary: If there isn’t much community property to split in a divorce, this might not be necessary. But if you and your spouse have acquired significant assets together, a forensic accountant can help you come up with a plan for property division that is fair and suits both of your needs. You can also hire a professional to appraise any of your properties if their value is in dispute. 
• Don’t cut corners during discovery: Discovery is the formal affair of requesting documents to achieve a resolution in a divorce. This is your opportunity to catch your spouse in their lies, if they exist. Your attorney can make sure that discovery is completed thoroughly so you can achieve a favorable divorce resolution. 
• Hire an experienced family law attorney: When you anticipate a nasty divorce, it’s best to hire a skilled lawyer. The money you save from not hiring an attorney could end up being your most expensive discount. Hire an attorney who will fight for all that you have created during your marriage. 

Ready To Divorce a Pathological Liar? Call Our Firm To Get Started. 

Finding out your spouse is a pathological liar can feel like the world has been ripped out from beneath you. Our family lawyers seek to provide guidance and stability in turbulent times. We have helped countless clients with families just like your own whether they’re going through divorce, a custody matter, child support, modifications, and more. You deserve honesty after the ordeal of being married to a pathological or compulsive liar. At AZ Family Law Lawyers, this starts with your 100% free initial consultation. To schedule your free consultation by phone today, contact us at AZ Family Law Lawyers or call 480-680-9126.