Advice on abandonment

[Anonymous]

I am a stay at home parent. My spouse abandoned the home without any explanation and spends hardly any time with the children. He won't tell us where he is living. As far as money, he gives very little and hardly any food. I have put in many job applications but no word yet. What are our rights? He told the kids that he won't divorce me because he does not want me to get a cent. Also, the kids are really acting up now especially one is acting emotionally traumatized. I have no family here either. Any advice would be appreciated.

[Anonymous]

What the hell? Did this come out of nowhere?

You need to see an attorney. Abandonment is a reason for divorce, and you should be entitled to some of the marital assets and support, at least for the kids.

Where are you? Where is your family?

[Anonymous]

You need to file for divorce and child support/alimony. Also, go to social services and apply for food stamps, cash assistance and utility and other help.

[Anonymous]

He's not in charge. If he won't divorce you then you divorce him and get child support. He probably won't tell you where he's living because he's in another relationshop. The court will decide how much money you get.

[Anonymous]

Apply for food stamps, medicaid and any other program you and the children might qualify for. The Dept. of Social Services can also help you file for child support, its less expensive that way than if you use a private attorney. You can file for divorce yourself. Your husband does not have to agree to it. You will need a lawyer for divorce/property division.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What the hell? Did this come out of nowhere?

You need to see an attorney. Abandonment is a reason for divorce, and you should be entitled to some of the marital assets and support, at least for the kids.

Where are you? Where is your family?

I live in DC. I can't afford an attorney. Can someone at legal aid be able to help. I was looking on line and it seems that he has to be gone for a year for it to be considered abandonment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What the hell? Did this come out of nowhere?

You need to see an attorney. Abandonment is a reason for divorce, and you should be entitled to some of the marital assets and support, at least for the kids.

Where are you? Where is your family?

I live in DC. I can't afford an attorney. Can someone at legal aid be able to help. I was looking on line and it seems that he has to be gone for a year for it to be considered abandonment.

Did he clear out your shared accounts?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What the hell? Did this come out of nowhere?

You need to see an attorney. Abandonment is a reason for divorce, and you should be entitled to some of the marital assets and support, at least for the kids.

Where are you? Where is your family?

I live in DC. I can't afford an attorney. Can someone at legal aid be able to help. I was looking on line and it seems that he has to be gone for a year for it to be considered abandonment.

Some universities have free legal clinics, call legal aide and call the court for a recommendaiton.

[Anonymous]

You can also call the National Domestic Violence Hotline [phone] or go to thehotline.org. They'll give you a referral to local legal help.

[Anonymous]

No advice but I'm feeling anger at your situation. Hope it gets resolved quickly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No advice but I'm feeling anger at your situation. Hope it gets resolved quickly.

Thanks, stress anger on my part too. My kids as well.

[Anonymous]

Legal abandonment or not he has left the home and the marriage. He's not supporting his children. File for divorce. The law is on your side.

[Anonymous]

There are definitely options for you to get you through the period before a divorce can become final. Call Legal Aid, the DC Bar Association, or one of the law schools... someone will be able to help you. Don't give up!

[Anonymous]

Once you start applying for government aid the cogs will start to turn. They have a vested interest in tracking him down and attaching part of his paycheck on your behalf and the law allows for this.

[Anonymous]

I think in DC you can file for alimony as soon as divorce papers are filed. In your case due to his departure from the home you would most likely be approved. You will have to work but alimony can be ordered until you have enough time to get everything together.