When a relationship ends, things can get messy, especially when it comes times to discuss things like alimony and property division. People find many ways to protect their property and assets and keep them from getting in the hands of their spouse in the event of a divorce. While most people choose to simply draft a prenuptial or postnuptial agreement, these are not options people always choose. In the end, they may find that their decision to not follow the law could do more harm than good.
It was recently reported that a New York woman found out that her husband of 20 years was in fact not her husband. The couple married in 1994 and had built a life together, vacationing in Europe and even raising a son. It wasn’t until she was reviewing a tax bill and hired an investigator that she found out the man she knew as her husband had actually divorced her in the Dominican Republic without her knowledge only a few months after they tied the knot. The woman is currently suing her husband, allegedly stating that the divorce is fraud and that it should be nullified. It is reportedly her attempt to prevent the sale of the Manhattan apartment they resided in during the marriage.
This particular case may seem odd, but anyone anywhere can do something similar in an attempt to keep their property and assets from their spouse. All states have laws about how property will be divided when a couple divorces, but that doesn’t mean people agree with these laws. Because of this, they may try to find ways to avoid the law, for this man, he decided to divorce his wife without her knowledge.
There are options for those who want to protect their property and assets and to divorce your spouse that are legal. It is important that these matters be handled in a way that is mature and most importantly legal if you want things to go smoothly and ensure the best outcome. Anyone who feels as though they may want to divorce their spouse, but are worried about their assets may want to speak to an attorney.
Source: The New York Post, “Husband secretly divorced wife after wedding ‘to protect assets’,” Kathianne Boniello, Jan. 24, 2016
