Legal Question in Family Law in Florida

Help!!!!! i am 19 been married for 10 months.i am scared to leave my husband.hes 22 abusive mentaly and phisically i want a divorce.....my parents live close but i am scared what will happen if i leave..he doesn,t work and controles my every move he checks my phone ..i am working but i am scared...please help me.....is there a way i can get a divorce with out him knowing???then it might be easier to leave..he keeps saying ( hes my husband and i must obay)... young and desperate.......


Asked on 10/19/09, 8:51 pm

2 Answers from Attorneys

Luba Smal Smal Immigration Law Office

I am very sorry to hear about this situation of domestic abuse that you've found yourself in.

If your parents can take you back and provide some protection, you might want to ask them for help.

Another free and very good resource for you could be a local chapter of YWCA.

Based on your zip code, I've found the nearest YWCA office:

YWCA Palm Beach County

Address: 2200 N Florida Mango Rd Ste 102

West Palm Beach , FL 33409-6448

Phone: 561-640-0050

You can call them and ask for help. YWCA can usually help with the Domestic Violence shelters and obtaining a Restraining order.

It might be very important for your safety to find a safe place to stay for a while (either a domestic violence shelter or parents place) AND obtain a Restraining order.

Later, when you left an abusive husband and safe you can file for divorce. No, you can't get divorce secretly without him knowing. He will have to be notified and served. However, it shouldn't be an issue once you are settled and on a safe distance from him (not in the same household).

On the last note, a wife doesn't have to obey husband, especially if he is an abuser. There is no law in the United States saying that a wife must obey her husband. A wife has right to keep her Maiden name, leave her husband and file for divorce, call police if a husband abuses her (as she would if anyone else was beating or abusing her), get a Restraining order against him, etc.

Good luck!

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Answered on 10/19/09, 11:23 pm
Lucreita Becude Lucreita D. Becude, P.A.

Head for the nearest legal aid office in your area. Domestic Violence is their specialty and will advise you of a safe house to go to. Do not stay in this environment. Contact your parents and let them know what is going on.

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Answered on 10/21/09, 4:41 pm


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