Adultery, in its simplest terms, is a voluntary sexual relationship between a married person and someone other than their spouse. This type of relationship is viewed as an immoral act under most laws, and can even be a felony offense in some countries. Adultery presents serious legal risks, both for the person who has strayed outside the bounds of marriage and for their spouse.
What Are the Legal Risks of Adultery?
The legal risks of adultery are many, depending on the laws of the state you live in. In some states, adultery can be prosecuted as a felony or misdemeanor crime, carrying jail time as a potential punishment. In other states, adultery may lead to financial penalties in a civil lawsuit. In every state, adultery is grounds for a divorce. This means that a spouse can use evidence of adultery as leverage in a divorce case to gain custody of the children, control of property, or a larger share of the other spouse’s assets.
In addition to the legal repercussions, adultery can also have far-reaching personal consequences. Spouses have been known to lose their jobs due to breaches in trust or indiscretions reported in the workplace. Adultery can also be a difficult issue for children to process, shaking their fundamental understanding of marriage and family.
Modern Examples of Adultery
Though adultery has been a part of human relationships throughout history, it has been of increased media interest in recent years. The ‘Weinstein Effect’ in the entertainment industry, for example, has involved salacious details of powerful men’s infidelities and instances of possible adultery brought to light. In the business world, former head of Amazon Studios, Roy Price, was fired after allegations of sexual misconduct as a result of his adulterous relationship.
In both cases described above, the colossal fallout of the personalities’ adultery behaviors was both professional and personal. Stripped of their jobs, their reputations tarnished, it is an example of the risks of adultery in the modern age.
The Takeaway
Adultery presents not only legal risks in a divorce or criminal case, but also carries personal consequences that can be devastating. In many parts of the world, adultery is still a crime, and if caught, could lead to fines or possibly incarceration. With the current climate in the business world, it is perhaps a good time to remember that adultery, whether between co-workers, employees, or employers, will not only bring unwanted legal repercussions but could ruin careers and reputations in the process.