Marital misconduct includes financial and economic abuse

The North Carolina General Assembly lists those actions that classify as marital misconduct. Recklessly spending or wasting a household’s earnings may provide a spouse with grounds for divorce and financial support.

Excessive gambling, for example, qualifies as marital misconduct when money needed for necessities instead goes toward lottery tickets or trips to casinos. As reported by Kiplinger’s Personal Finance, a gambling addiction coulddrain bank accounts and damage a marriage.

A compulsive habit may cause harm to household finances

An individual with a serious addiction may begin lying to a spouse about spending money. As the habit magnifies, more of a family’s resources may go toward supporting an irresponsible compulsion. The reckless spending may show on bank or credit card statements and warn that an addiction has taken over a couple’s finances.

Money transferred from joint bank accounts to a spouse’s personal account may stand as a red flag of a developing habit. Applying for loans and expecting a spouse to pay them may classify as marital misconduct; excessive debts in both spouse’s names may qualify as economic abuse.

Economic abuse may lead to severe financial dangers

As noted by Bankrate.com, economic abuse occurs when an individualrestricts a spouse from accessing financial accounts. It may also include seizing money from a spouse’s paycheck or using his or her credit without permission.

The financial danger may accelerate when a spouse requires permission from an abusive individual to spend money on groceries. If a spouse finds that he or she needs to beg for their household and children’s necessities, the marriage may have progressed beyond repair.

Economic abuse and financial recklessness may provide grounds for a divorce in North Carolina. A divorce settlement may include financial support to make up for the loss of assets caused by a spouse’s abusive behavior.