Legal Question in Family Law in Michigan

I am in a very abusive relationship. I have the mother of 3 children, 2 from a previous relationship. My husband refuses to insure his step-children even though it costs no addition premium. He leaves me home with no gas or access to any money and at times, refuses to buy my hear medication. I am ready to end this and have recently began counseling, to be able to cope with his abusive ways. We have been married almost 3 years, however, have been together for 7. When we started dating, I lived in an apartment, with my 2 children from a previous relationship. He moved in with me (but never legally changed his address). Then we decided to buy a home. We discussed it and since his credit was much better, we put the home in his name. However, we looked at the home together, and I even have correspondence from the realtor, via faxes, to and from my place of employment at the time, regarding purchase agreements and other items. I have always held down a job and contributed to the bills, until I was laid-off and had our son. While I went back to school, I continued to collect unemployment and pay all the household bills, with the exception of the mortgage and his truck payment. My father passed away and left me with some money. I was talked into improving the house since it was also considered "my children and my home"... I spent over $20,000 in a 4 month period of my father's inheritance (before we were married) and invested it into this home. I have lived here, since the closing on the house. We also used to share bank accounts, however a year ago, he opened a personal savings account and checking account that all of his earnings are funneled through. He leaves me with NO access to a dime and will not even give me gas money or grocery money, He will physically take my car to the gas station, only to put enough money to get the kids back and forth to school. This week, since he is angry with me for seeking counseling, he refuses to get gas for my car. He keeps a spare set of keys to my car locked away and threatens to take it, if I were to leave. My car is also in his name. I really do not have another place to go and the abuse is getting worse. Since he constantly tells me I have to leave since the house is not technically in my name, is this true, although I have invested in this, using some of my inheritance? All the furniture I have purchased along with many other things I have done to improve this household. I just graduated from college (which he did not help with, I used my student loans) and have yet to find employment. I have applied everywhere, even jobs that I am over-qualified for. My questions are: Since I have lived here since we bought the house, unmarried, in his name, but with intentions of it always being the "family home" and are now married, would I be entitled to anything, including the money I invested before marriage? And, since my name is NOT on the house and I have no where to go and I have sole physical custody of my old 2 children, is there a way to get him to move out temporarily, and also help pay the bills, while we go through the divorce proceedings? Also, since I have absolutely NO money or access, is there a way for me to get advice or an attorney, since I don't think he will ever file for divorce, since I am looked at as an object, rather than a human?


Asked on 11/05/14, 10:43 am

1 Answer from Attorneys

First, you need to end this craziness. Second, you need to meet with an experienced, aggressive divorce attorney in Genessee County. You have lots of options available to you including asking a judge to order that your husband pay your attorney fees. You will also be entitled to half of the marital assets regardless of whose name they are in.

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Answered on 11/05/14, 11:37 am


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