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Divorce tips for an Army wife of 5 years in Texas- own house, but no kids!?

My husband and I were married for 5 years- he joined a week after we got married. After his 1st deployment he came home an alcoholic and got physically and verbally aggressive while drunk. I stuck by him because I wanted to support him through whatever he was going through, but he cheated on me and things got rough. He refused marriage counseling and I just did what I could to keep it together. Almost a year ago he returned from a 2nd deployment and things have been much worse. He's still drinking (now drinking and driving) and the abuse has gotten worse and no longer requires alcohol. About 4 weeks ago he moved out and is living with a friend (and his new girlfriend). He stopped his pay to my account and as an E-5 only has to give me $250 per check/$500 a month! I had to call IG to help me get a protective order because of his violent history and they are now investigating him for adultery (he admitted to cheating now and back then). I have since been looking for a job, but my car was being repaired for several weeks and I'm just now able to follow through with interviews. In the mean time $500 isn't going to pay our $1200 mortgage or $650 in car payments/insurance. I don't care if the credit cards and student loans get paid, I can recover from that, but I'm left in this house and feel like he just pulled the rug out from under me. I still think this is Post traumatic stress disorder, but I can't let him destroy my life because of it. Texas and the Army have weird laws that don't seem to help me much and I NEED all the help I can get. If I get a job and can pay the bills will I still have to sell this house? How does a judge decide who gets what? I had foster children before, that WAS my job, but obviously this wasn't a good environment for them so I'm now looking for a job. I was also a substitute teacher and summertime is here... I'm not sitting in self pity, I just don't want to loose my life. I can't leave here until I find homes for my animals- the house I'm talking about is a small farm so the horses, and other animals deserve to have good homes, but he says if I sell them he'll sue me for half of anything I sell! Ok, this is getting longer and longer, thank you all for reading and answering. JAG won't help me because we own property I have to get a civilian lawyer, but with no money can't pay a retainer. I'm not being a helpless victim, I'm just not sure what to do...

Public Comments

1. find your way back to your family get a job get a divorce and start your life over consult a lawyer
2. Get as far away from him as you can! Divorce immediately. This guy sounds almost dangerous, don't waste anymore time with him.
3. GIRL I AM AT HOOD>>> get with me! melissa_hernandez77@yahoo.com.
4. My sympathies on your hellish life, I do understand. But with no kids, I don't get why he needs to pay you. Did you not work before? What did you do with yourself? I don't know of any families where the husband and wife don't both work, kids or not. I don't see that you really have a problem here. Get yourself a job, get to school or both, become self-sufficient, move on with your life, and don't waste one more second of your precious time feeling sorry for yourself, or even thinking about that jerk of a husband - soon to be ex I hope. I'm serious, you're done with that - walk tall!!!
5. Well Texas is a community property state so he is legally responsible for half the debt and half the assets of the marriage. If you are near a military base, go seek legal help from JAG or hire a regular lawyer. But you need to get a lawyer to protect yourself and force him to pay for his half of the debts. And settle the property issues.