Need info. for TN

Hi --
I live in TN. I have been married for 10 years and I have 3 children. I have not worked in almost 8 years (since our oldest was born). My husband has decided to leave and go live with another woman. I do not want a divorce and will make that very clear.
My questions are:
1)Do I have to let him take the children. I have told him that he can see them as often as he likes as long as he comes here to see them. I told him that this would be the case until I "legally" had to do something different.
2)Can I require him to continue to pay all of our bills? I do not work and haven't in several years. Is there any way to make him pay if we don't immediately proceed to divorce.

Thank you for your help!

My heart goes out to you. You say your husband moved in with another woman but that you don't want a divorce.

My guess is that you'll rethink that at some point in the near future.

No. You can't force him to pay any bills -- but a court can.

And he can't force you to let him see the kids for visits -- but a court can.

In addition, you should know that should he decide to come over and physically take the kids from you, you don't have any grounds to stop him, if there is no court order in place granting you primary physical custody.

In order to protect your rights, you really should file something with the court.

Filing a Petition for Dissolution doesn't automatically mean you're going to be divorced. But it WILL help you protect your rights because the court will make orders that establish child support, child custody and temporary spousal support, if you ask for it and if the court believes you qualify for it.

A court won't officially divorce you until you have a signed settlement agreement approved by the court or have a final hearing.

So, you can file, get the orders in place as to custody and support and then take your time and finalize it when you wish.

Good luck to you.