Texas man did not obtain a proper divorce and was married to two women

April 26, 2013 (Press-News.org) A Texas man found himself in a lot of trouble this month when it was discovered he was married to two women at the same time. According to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, the 38-year-old man married his childhood sweetheart in 2004 and surprised her in 2009 by telling her over the phone that he wanted a divorce. He had her sign divorce documents that he had completed online and he moved out of the marital home located in Arlington.

The man filed the divorce petition with the court on October 16, 2009, and less than three hours later married another woman who lived in Grapevine, showing a copy of the divorce petition as proof he was divorced. However, he later reconciled with his first wife and lived with her during the weekdays, spending his weekends with wife number two who traveled during the week. The petition that was filed was dismissed the following April since he had not pursued the divorce.

The gig was up when wife number two called wife number one to ask why her husband was still paying the bills for his supposed ex-wife. The childhood sweetheart has since obtained a legal divorce thus allowing the second marriage to be validated. The man narrowly avoided a criminal charge of bigamy because the time period for filing the action against him had expired.

Important aspects of divorce

Although this tale is extreme and highly unusual, it does highlight the necessity of obtaining a proper divorce once a couple has decided to go their separate ways. There are many steps that must be taken to become legally divorced and, if one is missed, the divorce may be declared invalid or left unfinished.

Once a person or a couple comes to a decision to get divorced, they need to make numerous decisions regarding such issues as:
- Child custody and visitation: Who will raise the children and how will the parents maintain their parent-child relationships

- Property division: How will marital and separate properties be divided between the spouses, including such assets as retirement accounts, business interests and the like

Other aspects of divorce include estate planning changes, child support -- which is mandated and the amount determined by Texas law -- and spousal support.

Legal assistance is available

If you or your spouse is seeking a divorce, it is important to seek the counsel of an experienced family law attorney. A lawyer knowledgeable about divorce can help you through each step and decision and may be able to help you obtain a more agreeable settlement.

Article provided by Jim Ross & Associates, P.C.
Visit us at www.jimrossfamilylaw.com