Legal Question in Family Law in Texas

The love of my life, my soul mate was I believe murdered on Feb. 15 and I was not informed by anyone of his death even though his sister who works for the company that employed him knows me and my phone number. I was informed by a text message on March 1, at 5:pm by a coworker that knew who I was. I had just spoken to Arnold, Saturday night when he flew into town from Florida. We lived together for over ten years and to him and everyone in my family and circle that knew us as a couple knew how much we loved each other. His family had many problems with our relationship and he lived a double life. Telling his family whatever they wanted to hear. His sister knows the truth. She asked me how did I find out about his death? After the text and two weeks of going insane in my spirit knowing something was wrong, All she asked is how did you find out? I'm desperately trying to seek recognition and be acknowledged as his wife. He and I obtained a Marriage License in 1999 of July. That was our Anniversary Month. Although I would not go through with the ceremony we lived as man and wife and he wrote to me as his wife and admitted me into the ER using his name. What can I do to get legal rights as his spouse. We never stopped our relationship and his phone records show this information. He had a company phone through Eagle Maritime and his sister is the administrator of the company in Houston office. She told me that she knew that her brother loved me very much. Yet I was not informed and was treated inhumanely by his family. I am not even allowed to write in his Legacy Guest Book on line. Yet the book of his life has a gap from all the years of our times together. We had a family and he raised my two daughters with me since 1996. I know information that he was involved in at the Port of Houston, Arnold was a heavy crane operator and traveled the past four years and drank excessively because of his unhappiness. He was somehow involved with things I know about and was scared for his life. It was a difficult case for the coroner to close but I believe it was because Arnold was murdered and did not commit suicide like the report shows. He was in fear of his life. I want to be able to have the rights as his wife to do something about this and be acknowledged as his wife. How do I do this?


Asked on 4/23/10, 12:18 am

1 Answer from Attorneys

Fran Brochstein Attorney & Mediator

There is a possibility you were common law man and wife in Texas. I would need to meet with you and see if you qualify. I charge $2 per minute to do so.

If you don't have rights, his children might have legal rights.

You probably need a probate attorney. I don't do probate law. But I know many excellent probate attorneys.

Call me at 713-847-6000 if you want a consultation.

Read more
Answered on 4/28/10, 10:17 am


Related Questions & Answers

More Family Law, Divorce, Child Custody and Adoption questions and answers in Texas