• FreeAdvice has a new Terms of Service and Privacy Policy, effective May 25, 2018.
    By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our Terms of Service and use of cookies.

Questions about divorce, kids and child support

Accident - Bankruptcy - Criminal Law / DUI - Business - Consumer - Employment - Family - Immigration - Real Estate - Tax - Traffic - Wills   Please click a topic or scroll down for more.

Status
Not open for further replies.
K

kyky

Junior Member
What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Rhode Island and Connecticut

Hey all. I'm planning on getting married to a girl that's in Ukraine. I am too from Ukraine, but have become a naturalized US citizen. Now, eventually I want to bring her over (later down the road, I want to move back to Ukraine to be closer to my family there). Most likely I'm being paranoid, but would like to know what options I have.

Now, say I bring her over and we get married. The plan is to have 2 kids (at least) and then go back.

Say that after getting to know this girl, she turns out to be very manipulative and one of the following happens:
  1. She cheats on me and I _will_ divorce her (no questions, she does it once and we're through). How would that work? What would happen to her visa status? Will she keep half of what we made during that time? For how long will I continue to pay her? Or will this be a one-off thing? If I can prove that she cheated, will the courts go easy on me and throw the book at her?
  2. We have kids and I find out that those aren't my biological kids. Same as before, I will dump her ass at the first notion. But again, same questions and what about the ******* kid? Will I need to keep paying him/her/it? As far as I'm concerned, if they're not my genes, I'm not obliged to give a damn no matter whether we're married or not. What are my options to make sure I'm not supporting this kid?

The reason why I ask is because I know men who got screwed in this process one way or another. Many of them are losers in their own way, so no surprise. But I _really_ want to know what my legal options are before I venture into this abyss.

Also, what if I leave and go back to Ukraine and she doesn't want to come with me, what happens to her legal/visa status?
 


K

kyky

Junior Member
What if I win the lottery or make lots of money after we're divorced, will she get a slice?
 
P

Proserpina

Senior Member
kyky said:
What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Rhode Island and Connecticut

Hey all. I'm planning on getting married to a girl that's in Ukraine. I am too from Ukraine, but have become a naturalized US citizen. Now, eventually I want to bring her over (later down the road, I want to move back to Ukraine to be closer to my family there). Most likely I'm being paranoid, but would like to know what options I have.

Now, say I bring her over and we get married. The plan is to have 2 kids (at least) and then go back.

Say that after getting to know this girl, she turns out to be very manipulative and one of the following happens:
  1. She cheats on me and I _will_ divorce her (no questions, she does it once and we're through). How would that work? What would happen to her visa status? Will she keep half of what we made during that time? For how long will I continue to pay her? Or will this be a one-off thing? If I can prove that she cheated, will the courts go easy on me and throw the book at her?
  2. We have kids and I find out that those aren't my biological kids. Same as before, I will dump her ass at the first notion. But again, same questions and what about the ******* kid? Will I need to keep paying him/her/it? As far as I'm concerned, if they're not my genes, I'm not obliged to give a damn no matter whether we're married or not. What are my options to make sure I'm not supporting this kid?

The reason why I ask is because I know men who got screwed in this process one way or another. Many of them are losers in their own way, so no surprise. But I _really_ want to know what my legal options are before I venture into this abyss.

Also, what if I leave and go back to Ukraine and she doesn't want to come with me, what happens to her legal/visa status?
Click to expand...



If you sponsor any woman for permanent residency and it's granted - even on a conditional basis - you can be on the hook to support her PERMANENTLY. Forever. Fault doesn't enter the equation - she could sleep with the entire Steelers team and would still be able to sue you for support under the terms of the I-864 affidavit of support. AND she'd get child support, additionally (assuming she got custody).

Divorce does not negate the obligation.

If that's not a risk you want to take, you need to start looking within the US for a spouse.
 
E

ecmst12

Senior Member
It is an abyss of the unknown if you marry someone without, say, DATING for a while first. And not long-distance dating either.
 
K

kyky

Junior Member
Proserpina said:
If you sponsor any woman for permanent residency and it's granted - even on a conditional basis - you can be on the hook to support her PERMANENTLY. Forever. Fault doesn't enter the equation - she could sleep with the entire Steelers team and would still be able to sue you for support under the terms of the I-864 affidavit of support. AND she'd get child support, additionally (assuming she got custody).

Divorce does not negate the obligation.

If that's not a risk you want to take, you need to start looking within the US for a spouse.
Click to expand...
So, we get married, then I get divorced and she can continue to get a check from me until she's in the grave?
 
E

ecmst12

Senior Member
If you SPONSOR her, it doesn't matter whether you're married, divorced, or never get married at all, you're obligated to support her until she becomes a citizen or leaves the country permanently.
 
E

ecmst12

Senior Member
Do everyone, especially yourself, a favor. Don't get married. You clearly don't understand the point of marriage, the reasons to get married, or how to protect yourself in making this decision. Getting married is a BIG DEAL, treat the decision with all the gravity it requires.
 
P

Proserpina

Senior Member
kyky said:
I mean no offense, but are you a real lawyer? How do you know this? Have you seen this happen?
Click to expand...


I'll answer your other response here first.

Yes, if you sponsor her and subsequently divorce, you could feasibly be on the hook for support until she meets one of these conditions. And she's not obliged to do any of them.

1. She dies.

2. She naturalizes (becomes a US citizen)

3. She earns 40 qualifying SS credits (works approx. 10 years)

4. Abandons her residency (leaves the US permanently).


And again that does NOT include child support - that would be separate. And if you didn't disestablish paternity as part of the divorce, you'd be on the hook regardless of biology.

Now this post.

Nope, I'm not an attorney. Most posters here aren't attorneys.

But if you want to research further, check this article:

http://www.ilw.com/articles/2006,0110-wheeler.shtm

It has references to other cases; start googling.
 
P

Proserpina

Senior Member
ecmst12 said:
If you SPONSOR her, it doesn't matter whether you're married, divorced, or never get married at all, you're obligated to support her until she becomes a citizen or leaves the country permanently.
Click to expand...


Or dies, or earns enough qualifying credits.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Find the Right Lawyer for Your Legal Issue!

Fast, Free, and Confidential
data-ad-format="auto">
Top