starstruck09
Junior Member
What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Virginia & Alabama
I married my husband in 1961 in the state of Virginia. He abandoned me in 1977. We have not lived together since then. I remained in Virginia and he ended up settling in Alabama. Since our separation, he went on the marry three other women. We never got a divorce. Two of the marriages were annulled. He died last week and all I have wanted was to make sure his estate is properly taken care of and his debts are settled. His fourth wife, is trying to claim that she is his legal wife and that I'm not his wife. I have my marriage license, we were never legally separated, divorced, etc. There was no annulment. He committed bigamy. My husband started receiving Social Security and ended up giving me half. I've been getting social security checks from him, for the last five years.
The funeral home said that his fourth wife wants her name on the death certificate. The funeral director said he is hesitant to put her name because I have a marriage license and there is no record of legal separation, divorce or annulment. The funeral director doesn't know what to do. He said he may have to put on the death certificate that he didn't have a spouse, he said if that is the case I will no longer be able to receive his social security benefits. What are my options? He supposedly left a will and named our granddaughter as the executor, but his fourth wife and her family have already removed numerous items from the house including things that were in my husbands name alone. I'm so confused and I'm eight hours away from where all of this is going on. Thank you in advance for any help you may be able to provide.
I married my husband in 1961 in the state of Virginia. He abandoned me in 1977. We have not lived together since then. I remained in Virginia and he ended up settling in Alabama. Since our separation, he went on the marry three other women. We never got a divorce. Two of the marriages were annulled. He died last week and all I have wanted was to make sure his estate is properly taken care of and his debts are settled. His fourth wife, is trying to claim that she is his legal wife and that I'm not his wife. I have my marriage license, we were never legally separated, divorced, etc. There was no annulment. He committed bigamy. My husband started receiving Social Security and ended up giving me half. I've been getting social security checks from him, for the last five years.
The funeral home said that his fourth wife wants her name on the death certificate. The funeral director said he is hesitant to put her name because I have a marriage license and there is no record of legal separation, divorce or annulment. The funeral director doesn't know what to do. He said he may have to put on the death certificate that he didn't have a spouse, he said if that is the case I will no longer be able to receive his social security benefits. What are my options? He supposedly left a will and named our granddaughter as the executor, but his fourth wife and her family have already removed numerous items from the house including things that were in my husbands name alone. I'm so confused and I'm eight hours away from where all of this is going on. Thank you in advance for any help you may be able to provide.