Wife Mentally Torturing Husband and Physically Abusing Kids for 13 Years

First and most importantly, if you are experiencing thoughts of harming yourself please reach out to iCall at 9152987821 or Vandrevala Foundation at 1860-2662-345, both of which are available to speak with you. Your children need you and legal solutions to your situation do exist. On your legal options, since you are a Christian your marriage is governed by the Indian Divorce Act, 1869. Under this law you can file a petition for divorce on grounds of cruelty before the Family Court. Thirteen years of consistent verbal abuse, abusive language, constant fighting, and physical violence against your children collectively constitute both mental cruelty towards you and physical cruelty towards your children, both of which are recognised grounds for divorce under the Indian Divorce Act. You may also explore mutual consent divorce under Section 10A of the Indian Divorce Act if your wife is willing, which is faster and less expensive than a contested divorce. Begin collecting and preserving evidence immediately. Record instances of her abusive behaviour and her physical mistreatment of the children using your phone wherever safely possible. Save any abusive messages or communications. Install a camera at home if feasible. This evidence will serve two purposes — supporting your divorce petition on grounds of cruelty and strengthening your application for custody of the children. On child custody, given that your wife is physically violent towards the children, you have strong grounds to seek sole custody. Courts decide custody matters purely on the basis of the welfare and best interests of the child. Evidence of a parent physically abusing children is taken extremely seriously by Family Courts and can result in custody being granted to the other parent with restricted or supervised visitation only for the abusive parent. File for interim custody at the earliest stage of the proceedings so the children are protected during the pendency of the case. If you are not ready for divorce and wish to first try a formal separation, you may file for judicial separation which gives both parties time apart without immediately dissolving the marriage. However given the duration and severity of what you have described, proceeding directly with a divorce petition on grounds of cruelty along with a custody application is the more practical course of action. Engage a lawyer experienced in Christian matrimonial law in your jurisdiction and file the petition without further delay. Thirteen years is long enough.