I Live in Constant Fear of My Narcissistic Ex’s Legal Threats

Sometimes the narcissist’s threats are valid, sometimes they’re smoke and mirrors. 

Many narcissists will relentlessly threaten court. But often, they are the ones who fear court due to the risk of image exposure or financial repercussions. The threats are typically empty puffs of projection mixed with scare tactics.

So how should a survivor respond considering that these threats, while often empty, are terrifying and carry serious ramifications - especially when they involve child custody?

Understanding Legal Abuse

Remember that misusing court proceedings to control, harass, intimidate, coerce, and exhaust your financial and emotional resources is one of key ways that narcissists try to maintain power and control over their victims after separation.

Many abusers know that simply threatening to do so is enough to send any survivor into a tailspin of terror and worry.

Understanding that legal threats are just another form of abuse makes it easier to protect yourself and your children.

Protecting Yourself from the Narcissist’s Legal Threats & Abuse

One approach to protecting yourself from the narcissist’s legal threats, is to work to determine whether or not they’re legitimate.

If you have an attorney that you trust, you can communicate your fears and the narcissist’s threats, and ask for clarity as to whether or not you should take the threat seriously.

You can also use The Narc Decoder to understand what the narcissist is actually saying. This can provide incredible mental clarity and peace of mind.

But ultimately, understanding and implementing strategic communication, a powerful and effective documentation system, and safeguards against claims of parental alienation will be the most effective ways to protect yourself and your children from the narcissist’s legal threats - whether they’re legitimate or not.

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Divorcing a narcissist? Welcome, you've come to the right place.

The fine print: I am not qualified to give you (or anyone) legal advice, I recommend consulting with your attorney. Your attorney is your voice and your advocate in the family court system.

About me: My name is Tina Swithin. I am a survivor and I am a mom who "gets it.” While acting as my own attorney, I successfully protected my children in a system that is best described as “inhumane,”  I am a blogger, a divorce coach and a fierce advocate for reform in the family court system. I divorced a narcissist and I prevailed. You can read more about me here.