The decision to seek or not seek legal advice is really up to your friend, but the sooner that she does, the sooner she can start making some decisions on how to resolve her marriage situation.For example, considering the length of their marriage and how he left, she could have a very good shot at requesting alimony if she is unable to support herself. If she is fairly independent, then she may not qualify-- but a family law attorney could help her start working through the facts of the situation to decide.  If she is having a hard time financially, then she may want to file for divorce and at least ask for temporary spousal support until she can get back on her feet.The other issue that she needs to visit with an attorney about is debt issues.  While her husband is out with new woman, he could be incurring debt which could potentially come back on her because they are still married.  Temporary orders and final orders can help give her protection from his reckless spending. It's not necessarily "negative" for her not to seek legal advice.  However, failing to look at some of these issues could have a negative effect on her income and credit history.  The sooner she decides to seek legal advice, the sooner she'll be able to take back ownership of her finances.