This week I spoke with the smart and financially savvy Emma Johnson, over at her blog WealthySingleMommy.com about the problem with adultery from a divorce attorney’s perspective. The gist: courts won’t compensate you for a broken heart.

When there is infidelity, settlements are all but impossible, rationale goes out the window, and contention runs higher than in other matrimonial dissolution cases.

“That betrayal colors every single part of the divorce process, and makes it so much harder for the cheated-on spouse to be reasonable,” said New York City family attorney Morghan Richardson.

One of the most difficult conversations I have with clients can be dealing with their expectations because of a cheating spouse. Divorce can be an emotionally devastating experience. Adultery can make it much worse. But at the end of the day clients need to realize that the courts will do little about the reasons WHY you are getting divorced. Letting go of that emotional hurt can help get you to a fair agreement and move forward with your life.

Read Johnson’s take here: How To Deal With Divorce When Your Husband Cheated

Did your spouse cheat? How did the court handle that part of your case? Discuss in the comments.