Q: Separated, accused of abandonment for wife's disabled son. Concerned about legal responsibility?
My wife and I separated after 5 years. She has a son from a previous relationship who is blind and disabled. They came to the U.S. on a visitor visa and now have permanent resident status. Her son is now 19. My wife is trying to get support through the state of Georgia, accusing me of abandonment of her son, despite there being no court orders about support, and our arrangement was only voluntary and verbal during our marriage. I have received communication from Georgia regarding this accusation of abandonment. Should I be concerned about my legal responsibility in this situation?
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A: Normally, you do not have a legal obligation to care for someone else's child. However, if you brought your wife and her child to the US based on your marriage, you probably signed an affidavit stating that you would support her, even after a divorce. You may want to review those documents and consult with an immigration and divorce attorney knowledgeable in those areas.
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