Entitlement Always Escalates—Especially in Divorce and Custody Battles

Part 1 of 5 - How to Anticipate and Survive Post-Separation Abuse Dynamics in Family Court

If they acted entitled in your relationship, don’t expect it to magically stop once lawyers are involved.

Entitlement doesn’t dissolve in court. It intensifies.

If your ex was controlling, manipulative, aggressive, or deceptive before court—why would they suddenly transform into a model citizen inside it?

Let me say this loud and clear:

No one gets a character transplant just because they stepped into a courtroom.

If your relationship ended because of coercive control, betrayal, emotional abuse, or manipulation, then you can expect those behaviors to escalate—not disappear—once litigation begins.

In family court, entitlement isn’t just annoying—it’s strategic. It’s how abusers weaponize the system to maintain power, punish you, and protect their ego. If they demanded loyalty while cheating, twisted facts to suit their narrative, or acted like the rules didn’t apply to them—expect that same behavior to escalate once litigation begins.

Abusers don’t suddenly become rational, truthful, or fair under oath.

They become more calculating. More desperate. And more entitled.

That’s why this series breaks down four core dynamics that drive abuse—Entitlement, Control, Coercion, and Compliance—and shows you exactly how to anticipate each one during a divorce or custody battle.

Understanding these patterns won’t just help you feel seen.

It will help you reclaim your power, protect your peace, prepare your evidence, and stop being surprised by behavior you’ve actually seen before.

These four elements are the soil where abuse grows. And if your custody or divorce case is high-conflict, you’ve probably already seen the roots starting to show.

This series will help you:

• Understand the relational dynamics behind your ex’s legal behavior

• Predict patterns of abuse showing up in court

• Prep your evidence, strategy, and nervous system ahead of time

Let’s start with the first one: Entitlement.

🔥 Element 1: ENTITLEMENT – “I Deserve What I Want, No Matter the Cost”

Entitlement is a deep-seated internal belief that “I am owed this.”

It’s the mental framework that says:

• “My opinion matters most.”

• “Rules are for other people.”

• “I should get what I want, and you should deal with it.”

When someone's worldview is entitled, they don’t share power—they expect power. They don’t just want privilege—they assume it’s already theirs.

In court, entitlement often shows up like this:

• Delayed filings and missed deadlines (but always an excuse)

• Outrage when the judge doesn’t take their side

• Attempts to control the narrative at all costs

• Total disbelief that you could dare to stand up to them

And if they were entitled in the relationship—don’t expect that to disappear in litigation.

Let’s break it down with a few practical examples:

🚩 Were they financially controlling during the relationship?

Expect them to lie, hide, or distort information in financial affidavits.

Don’t take their word. Verify everything. Line by line.

🚩 Did they act like their opinion always mattered most?

Don’t expect them to follow professional advice from therapists, doctors, or GALs.

Their pattern is to override anyone who challenges their power.

🚩 Did they believe they had a right to cheat—or keep you loyal while they strayed?

Don’t expect celibacy during the divorce.

But also don’t be surprised if they rage when you eventually start dating again.

Entitlement serves one main goal: privilege.

Your ex may feel entitled to your time, your money, your silence, your good reputation—or all of the above.

And if you’re feeling that gut-deep sense of injustice and inequality, it’s not just in your head.

It’s the aftershock of a system that’s often tilted to protect power rather than question it.

But here’s the shift:

Once you learn to name entitlement for what it is, you can start to predict the patterns.

And when you can predict it—you can prep for it.

Next in this Series: CONTROL – When Privilege Gets Threatened

Entitlement doesn’t like being challenged. So when you push back, your ex doesn’t let go—they tighten their grip. In Part 2, we’ll explore how control becomes the security blanket for entitled abusers—and how you can anticipate their next move.

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Ready to Stop Being Blindsided in Court?

If you’re realizing your ex’s entitlement didn’t end when the relationship did—it just got a legal stage to perform for a bigger audience—then it’s time to stop hoping for fairness and start prepping for the fight.

FREEDOM Navigator | BASECAMP gives protective parents like you the courtroom strategy, trauma-informed support, and expert tools you need to stand your ground and stay one step ahead.

🎯 Get on the waitlist here.