Cheating often feels like a deeply personal betrayal. It brings humiliation and heartbreak, reshaping how people view love and marriage. In most parts of the United States, infidelity leads to emotional turmoil, divorce, or therapy sessions. However, in a few states, an affair can trigger something much more surprising: a courtroom battle.
The Sinema Lawsuit Puts 'Homewrecker Laws' Back in Focus
This uncomfortable reality resurfaced recently. Former Arizona senator Kyrsten Sinema now faces an alienation of affection lawsuit in North Carolina. Heather Ammel, the ex-wife of Matthew Ammel, filed the claim. Matthew Ammel served on Sinema's security detail.
The couple shared a fourteen-year marriage. Heather Ammel alleges that Sinema and Matthew Ammel engaged in an affair during the marriage. She claims to have uncovered evidence of inappropriate behavior. Suggestive messages exchanged on the encrypted app Signal form part of her proof. She seeks over twenty-five thousand dollars in damages.
North Carolina remains one of the rare states where a spouse can sue a third party for allegedly interfering in a marriage. This holds true even if the third party was not married themselves.
What Exactly Is 'Alienation of Affection'?
Alienation of affection laws have a long history. They date back much further than many people realize. Numerous US states codified these laws during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Their roots stretch all the way to seventeenth-century England.
The original idea behind them now seems deeply outdated. Wives were once legally viewed as their husbands' property. Outside interference in a marriage was treated as damage to a man's possessions.
Over time, the claim evolved into what is known as a 'heart balm' tort. It aimed to compensate spouses who claimed a third party wronged them. Today, plaintiffs argue they lost the emotional benefits of marriage, not property.
Law professors Charles E. Daye and Mark W. Morris explained this to The Washington Post. The law compensates spouses for losing the love, society, companionship, and comfort that arise from the marital relationship.
Why Most States Abandoned These Laws
The majority of the country has discarded alienation of affection laws. Their archaic origins and clash with modern marriage concepts prompted this move.
Kentucky's Supreme Court eliminated the statute in 1992. The court ruled that affection between spouses cannot be owned. Other states followed this lead. They argued the claims were difficult to prove, emotionally invasive, and incompatible with no-fault divorce laws.
Every US state now permits no-fault divorce. This means couples can legally separate without assigning blame to either spouse. Despite this widespread shift, the law has not vanished completely.
Where an Affair Can Still Get You Sued
Only a handful of states still recognize alienation of affection claims. These laws are far from symbolic. North Carolina alone sees approximately two hundred to two hundred fifty cases each year, according to frequently cited court data.
Legal analysts and national media report that some plaintiffs win awards reaching hundreds of thousands of dollars.
These are the US states where an affair could still land you in court:
- North Carolina (where Sinema was sued)
- Mississippi
- New Mexico
- South Dakota
- Hawaii
- Utah (though the state legislature is currently considering abolishing the law)
The twenty-five thousand dollar claim against Sinema may not be the largest on record. However, the case has dragged this obscure and emotionally charged law back into the national conversation. It reminds Americans that, in some places, cheating is not just a personal matter. It carries legal consequences.
