Legal Question in Family Law in Arizona

19-year marriage, husband cheats.

My mom's husband was caught with another woman this weekend. While there is no sexual proof, there are receipts for gifts, dinners, etc. and a mutual friend of the family actually saw them together and approached him. He admitted to ''having dinner with a play-friend'' but not to the affair. They are both in their sixties and the ''play-friend'' is in her early thirties. He is chipping away at my mom's self-esteem by calling her ''old'' and ''no-fun.'' She is starting to crumble emotionally, and believes that she is somehow a failure. (You can imagine my disgust and anger with this man...)Divorce is inevitable, though my mother believes she doesn't need an attorney. He is already trying to get her to move out of the house that they both finanically contributed to. How do I help her? She's in her 31st year of teaching, and with the the impending divorce, I fear she won't have the money to buy a new home, let alone retire. Her pride is in such disrepair, and it's going to be my responsibility to help her and point her in the right direction. What should I do? What should she do/not do?

Thanks.


Asked on 11/10/08, 1:15 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Jeff Biddle Biddle Law Firm, PLLC

Re: 19-year marriage, husband cheats.

Wow. I am so sorry to hear what your mother is being forced to endure. As difficult as it may seem, she needs to take the first step and file for divorce and request temporary orders to kick him out of the house and pay her spousal support. The court typically does not take into consideration the affair but may make a disproportionate division of the assets and debts if he has spent a considerable sum on financing the affair. Without a doubt, she WILL get half and should start asserting herself now. I am certain that I can help her greatly since she sounds like she has more going on in her life to add learning how to divorce her husband to her burdens.

I do offer free consultations and payment plans if you are interested.

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Answered on 11/10/08, 3:45 pm


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