Q: I have been looking for an attorney to help me with common law divorce
I was with him for 14 years we aquired properties in texas over the last five years. Three weeks ago while on vacation in California he literally dumped me on curb with suitcase and $32.00. This has been a nite mare thank god i had old friend take me in. I am a 60 year old women who has seen and heard of horrible things in my life but animals are treated better than this.Is there anybody out there that can help me. I have not given up hope yet but do i not have a case to be intitled to something? Like i said this is unreal to me..I have contacted i think every attorney in Montgomery county. They say same thing they will not help me because I have no money.. Really , This is what we do now to people. I get it you offer a service for money.I am just not capable of doing it right now the money is there I just cannot get to it like a catch 22.Any adivce or help is greatly needed and appreciated. Thank You
A:
Since you and he never married, you have very few rights in a case like this under California law. The actor Lee Marvin was sued years ago under similar circumstances by a woman he dumped and she largely lost because she and he never married. This is one big difference between merely living together and being legally married under CA law.
Also, just because this happened in CA does not mean CA law applies. California generally does not recognize common law marriage unless you have a very specific set of circumstances. I have never heard of the term common law divorce. To get divorced in CA, you have to go through the court process, even if the spouses agree on everything.
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