Legal Definitions - indignity

Indignity (in-dig-ni-tee) is a term used in family law to describe a situation where one spouse's behavior is intended to humiliate the other spouse. This behavior can be a ground for divorce and is also known as personal indignity. It is similar to cruelty, which is another ground for divorce.

Examples of behavior that can be considered as indignity include:

• Constantly belittling or insulting the other spouse in front of others
• Refusing to communicate or show affection to the other spouse
• Controlling the other spouse's actions or decisions
• Physically or emotionally abusing the other spouse

For instance, if a husband constantly calls his wife names and makes fun of her in front of their friends, it can be considered as personal indignity. Similarly, if a wife refuses to talk to her husband for days and ignores his presence, it can also be considered as personal indignity.

These examples illustrate how one spouse's behavior can be calculated to humiliate the other and can be a ground for divorce.