I Am Married To A Bigamist

What Should I Do?

Too often, bigamy is a crime that goes unreported because its victims are embarrassed to go to the authorities. Victims are ashamed they have married someone who has not obtained an annulment or divorce from their previous spouse. Bigamy is socially unacceptable and it is not tolerated by our society. Bigamy is a crime.

But, why should you be ashamed? What have you done? You've done nothing, except love someone who has lied to you; you've done nothing except loved someone who has frauded you; you trusted your spouse to be honest with you. Speak up, go to the police, and don't back down.

I know I am married to a bigamist, what should I do?
If you know you are married to a bigamist, go to the police immediately. Also retain an attorney quickly to represent you in your annulment. If you have proof you are married to a bigamist, take both marriage licenses with you to the police, this will help speed the complaint process.

What if I am not sure my spouse is a bigamist?
If you are not sure, contact the previous spouse. Chances are he or she will be willing to help you. If the previous spouse is not willing to cooperate, try to secure the marriage license and look for the divorce decree or ask the police to contact the previous spouse.

Marriage licenses and divorce decrees are difficult to obtain because every state has different regulations and there is NO centralized database in the United States of marriage records.

Lovefraud.com has an excellent section on Mission Impossible: Finding Out If Someone Is Married that will help aid in your search.

I have filed a complaint but Law enforcement officials are dragging their feet. Should I give up?
Never give up; but welcome to the world of being married to a bigamist and dealing with law enforcement officials. Even though bigamy is a crime, it is not on the priority crime list of police. And in many jurisdictions, it is not even on the radar.

Frankly, bigamists are not the biggest fish to fry when thrust into the company of murderers, rapists, and gang-related violence. Nonetheless bigamy is a CRIME, and bigamy is a felony in all but thirteen states. Until victims start pushing and making law enforcement officials and prosecutors accountable for prosecuting this crime, it will remain unimportant and unrecognized.

Become relentless; become a bulldog. Make daily phone calls to the detective handling your case. If you are not satisfied, talk to his or her superior, and talk to the prosecutor handling your case. If you feel you are getting the runaround or your calls are not being returned, or your emails are deleted without being read, go to your elected county or city representative. You are a taxpayer and your hard-earned tax dollars help pay the salaries of the law enforcement officials. Do not give up.

Bigamy is an overlooked and unreported crime in the United States and UK. Bigamists wreak havoc in their victims' lives, not just emotionally but financially as well.

If you become relentless in your pursuit, you can make a difference. Read about a one brave woman's pursuit to ensure her bigamist spent two years in jail.

Bigamy Laws
Bigamy is a felony in most states. Bigamy statutes for each state and the District of Columbia are divided alphabetically into the following categories on Fighting Bigamy:

• Bigamy States A-G
• Bigamy States H-L
• Bigamy States M-P
• Bigamy States R-W

Please note there is no centralized database for jurisdictions to check to see whether or not a person is being truthful on their application. The sentences and fines for bigamy are less than for a DUI. If a National Marriage Database were in place, this would not be a problem. I urge you to sign the petition urging Congress to institute such a database.

Comments

[Betty A. (Sharp) Morrison]

I am also married to a bigamist, and I do not know what to do , I haven't seen him in nearly 3 years , nor do i want to. I have heard things about him , but the law enforcement here are dragging their feet , and i want this to end, so i may have to go to the courthouse myself and file to get my name fixed , and get this done by myself. I hate that I'm going to have to pay out of my pocket to fix what he has caused, but at the same time i'm tired of waiting for the law to find him , he's been in jail in several areas but they still can't seem to catch up with him! Its frustrating waiting!I have fianlly saved up enough to go file at the court house myself , but i don't know how to word the papers, but i assure you i will figure it out, and get it done. I live in Tennessee, where it's just a class A misdemeaner , but I would like to see him punished for what he's done , His 1st wife has 3 children by him , I have none by him. I pray to God that he gets what is coming to him soon...

[CELESTE]

I'AM MARRIED AND MY HUSBAND AND I HAVE A 18 MONTH OLD AND ALL IN ONE WEEK I FIND OUT HE HAS A 1ST WIFE AND A EMOTIONAL AFFAIR ON LINE WHERE HE IS SENDING MONEY AND BUYING GIFTS ALSO HE'S IN THE MILARTY AND DEPLOYED SEEMS LIKE THERE SHOCK BUT NOT MOVING FAST ENOUGH AND 1 CHAPITAN SAID THEY HAVEN'T SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS IN 20YEARS..AND MIND U MY HUSBAND IS WANTING ME AND OUR SON OUT THE HOUSE WE ARE RENTING AND WANTS IN HIS WORDS GET IT TOGETHER!! AND HE'S MAD BECAUSE I SAW THE BANK STATMENTS AND CALLED AND GOT HER ADDRESS AND WENT TO HER ALSO MOSTLY EVERYBODY HE WORKS WITH NO ABOUT THIS LADY WITH 4 KIDS AS HIS GIRLFRIEND AND THEY THINK I'AM JUST THE GIRLFRIEND NOT WIFE!!! I'AM VERY HURT BUT OUR SON IS THE WORST GOING TO BE HURT...

[beverly bechel]

my twin was a victim to is there anybody that could listen

[College Research Paper]

I appreciate the work of all people who share information with others.

[SupportingMom]

My mother was widdowed and recieving government retirement and medical benefits for my deceased father. She met and married a man who claimed to be a retired special forces ranger. She lost all government widdows benefits, including medical. The new husband became extremely controling and for years we thought he was poinsining her, we constantly looked in the obits for her name, as he insisted she trapse around the country with him (mostly Arizona and Montana and other western states)He talked her into refinancing the house, so now she has a house note (she is 72 years old).She was married to him 6 years when divorce parpers arrived with a current date- - so he was a bigamist for at least 6 years with her. Now her savings are depleted (he never worked a day during the marriage) and he has left her- - no divorce just gone. However, he pays the power and cable bill every month, I would think to establish residency,or possibly for IRS purposes - he may be filing against her house and business expenses. Now,she is destitute. What can be done to reestablish the rightful claim to my deceased fathers military benefits? Where do start? What should we do to legally sever all ties and re-establish her military benefits. Can she get a divorce if she was not legally married? Thanks

[sean Mitchell]

tiffany mitchell

[Laura]

I too had the unfortunate experience of being the victim of a bigamist and a pathological lier. It took two years to get an annulment because I was told, the law stated that since he was already married, our marriage was already void, so there was nothing that needed to be done, but that meant while I had a piece of paper filed that indicated that I was married, there was nothing indicating that I wasn't.

During that time I was afraid that if I didn't have proof we weren't married, that he'd use the marriage certificate to ruin my credit or do something else in "our" name. And while it's a crime in my state, nothing was done to him, nothing was put on his criminal record, no time served, no fines, nothing, even though the grounds for the annulment were "because he was already married", which he signed.

It was a very frustrating experience, because no one knew what to do, the lawyers and the cops weren't even sure of the law. Now there is a big story of another case being investigated in our state. Maybe this will make it easier for the victims in the future.

[Rich]

In Oct of 06, I found out that my wife had travelled to Las Vegas on "business" with apparently her boyfriend and married. I only found this out due to someone sending me a copy of the marriage certificate annonomously. I confronted my wife and she did admit to getting married. I then contacted an attorney and filed for divorce. I am now on my second attorney as my case seemed to be above the abilities of my first. We did present this in court and the courts did not seem to think that bigamy was a big deal. Now a year later, I am still in the middle of the divorce and do not see a quick end in sight. My feeling is that a national database is needed so that a bigamist can't apply for and obtain a mariage certificate in another state while still married. I further believe that the punishment at least in MA needs to be a bit more severe. After all a contract was broken. I was deceived, ripped off and our family was abandoned.

[arturo pena]

I'm a 200% in agreement with you. I don't understand how the goverment doesn't implement this measure. Such a database will erradica bigamy.

Get a quick divorce at http://www.wdalaw.com

[quick divorce]

"I have a friend who was married to a bigamist and the law is dragging their feet."

Of course bigamia is a serious crime in all States!!

Get a quick divorce at http://www.wdalaw.com

[ALLEN G]

HEY I MARRIED SOMEONE WHO WAS ALREADY MARRIED I AM NOT SHURE WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT BECAUSE IT WAS IN 1997 I JUST FOUND OUT ABOUT IT WE HAVE NOT BEEN TOGETHER SINCE 1998 I HAD NO IDEA TELL THE LAWYER I TALKED TO FOUND OUT ABOUT IT WHAT CAN I DO ABOUT IT NOW

[walter ludka junior]

My estranged wife left Belgium to visit her sister in Texas with my youngest daughter. She never returned and last year I found out that she got married even though she has not divorced. I spent a couple of weeks emailing and snail mailing the district attorny in Hunt count where the copy of the marriage license came from. He took my complaint very seriously and within a week i had contact with the investigating officer of the sheriffs department in Hunt county. I have filed an affidavit and with the evidence provided and photos, it is going to court.
It is a felony in Texas and she will only face probation at worst, but will have a criminal record.

[Gigi]

I am married to a bigamist. He and his 1st wife argued violently over the settlement agreement (for 2 years) because after a 24 year marriage she had a PI get photos of the two of us and started demanding just everything. All of a sudden though, while he has a paid attorney already, he sees a new attorney for divorce papers that give her 1/2 the house equity when it sells and her car. No alimony, no agreement to keep paying the 20 and 22 year old kids college expenses, etc AND he kept his business, 5 cars, a boat, his gun collection, rare coin collection, and the power to decide/accept the price of the home sale. The mortgage was 240,000 on a 400,000 home, about 2200./mo.
He told the new atty that he would get her signature- do not "embarrass" her by being served. He came back in 2 hours with signed papers. I took this forgery and filed it at the courthouse myself-not knowing it was forged.
2 weeks go by and I'm at the office with him when she storms in. She is screaming that she just found their divorce on the court website and she'd see him in jail for forgery! It goes on and on for an hour. He never calls the cops or asks her to leave, he just sits there tells her she is crazy, making koo-koo gestures at her.
Nothing ever happens though- the divorce goes thru the courts and he seems to get her cooperation when he pays her 85,000 in cash (yes, i saw CASH) and let her go on living in the home until it sold. She makes 80,000 year and he makes 40,000. They don't split the 2200.00/mo mortgage or utilities- No, HE pays it all, every month. Strange??
We get married the next year. He is VERY RELUCTANT to record the marriage, says he's nervous how his adult children will react.
I call their 22 year old daughter and tell her Dad remarried. She says OMG YOU DIDN'T!!! And hangs up.
Then 3 seconds later his ex-wife calls demanding to know where-when-and was it recorded. She gets a copy of the marriage certificate from the county courthouse that very day and calls me to warn me that I am married to a bigamist!
Again no charges are presented. But I am convinced this is shady. I find her signature on the receipt for 85,000 cash- they do not match the divorce signature. I just found a check she signed in 2005- IT MATCHES THE RECEIPT AND NOT THE DIVORCE COPY. THAT'S TWO.

I went to the police with all I know. I explained how my husband now has bad credit, just lost his vehicle in a repo, but went on paying her mortgage for 3 years AFTER he paid her to move out, and NOW claims she forged his name on a quitclaim and she owns the home for $1.00. Wouldn't he want SOME money for his house at least to buy a car? Cop said when was quitclaim? April, this year. Cop said, he has not charged her w/forgery so there is no crime. I said it looks to me like he forged her name on the divorce (i show him all 3 signatures) and now she forged his name to get the home. Tit for Tat.

The detective flat out said "YOU ARE NOT A PARTY OF THEIR DIVORCE OR THE REAL ESTATE TRANSFER".

So, it is none of my business if I am married to a forgerer/bigamist?? I stay trapped in a scam marriage unless SHE decides to put herself at risk (quitclaim forgery she did) and tell the world in court that the divorce is a fraud???

It's so unfair I just want to die to get out of it.

The law sees me as an imaginative liar, out to get him. There's no justice.

[Karensa]

I know that my husband is still married to me and another woman which he has children with both. Should I tell her?

[kitty]

I'm also married to a bigamist

[Tracy]

I have a friend who was married to a bigamist and the law is dragging their feet. She has not heard from the detective and the divorce was finalized before the DA allowed the Annulment to be processed. We need help! He needs to be exposed. He is a Pastor and was a big wig with a well known company. No on ealse need to be hurt in his games!

Thanks for any help of leads

NC