I am currently married and we have a toddler. It’s more than clear to me that my life would be happier if I pulled the trigger and filed for divorce, but I know on her end she would make sure my life only gets worse.

We currently have no savings and live paycheck to paycheck. I know the best option we have is to each move in with our families, but they live 3 hours apart from each other. On top of that, my parents both smoke weed (it’s legal recreationally in their state, but not in the state that I live in) and my wife has said that our child is not allowed to visit me there on account of that. I have checked with the courts and she has the right to ask for that and it will likely be granted. I can most likely afford my own cheap apartment which isn’t a problem, but I know that she will absolutely move in with her mom who is hours away from me.

My wife claims that if this happens that she does not want to limit the presence I have in our child’s life, but at the same time she is blatantly trying to make it as hard as possible for me to have time with my child. She would move her 2 hours away, she said she would fight for me to only see her every other weekend and that’s it, and she would fight for me to have no overnight stays until our child is over the age of 3. I don’t have the money for a lawyer so I feel like I can’t fight any of that.

Financially we make the same amount and everything is put into one bank account where every bill and thing we need is pulled from. It’s essentially an even 50/50 split. Our child is on her insurance and she says that she would fight for me to reimburse that every month on top of paying child support every week (11% of my weekly pay - about $100).

I just don’t think it’s possible for me to leave and still be a father. I don’t have anyone in my life with any idea of what to do. If anyone could give any guidance or advice I would greatly appreciate it.