Full question:
I have been married for 4 years. He did not tell me that he was married in 1999 to another woman; I found the marriage certificate. I have looked in 4 counties where they lived and found no record of a divorce. He continues to lie. What do I do? What is the legal action to take, is it a criminal offense?
- Category: Marriage
- Date:
- State: Washington
Answer:
If your spouse is married to someone else while you are married, they may be committing bigamy. Bigamy is a criminal offense where a person marries or claims to marry another person while still having a living spouse. In Washington State, bigamy is classified as a class C felony (RCW 9A.64.010).
You can seek an annulment, which is a legal decree stating that your marriage was never valid. An annulment can be granted if one party was misled or coerced into the marriage. Fraud, such as concealing a prior marriage, is a valid reason for annulment.
Since you found no record of a divorce for your spouse's previous marriage, you may have grounds for annulment based on fraud. However, annulments can be complex, and the specific facts of your case will be important.
It may be beneficial to consult with a family law attorney who can guide you through the process and help you understand your options.
This content is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Legal statutes mentioned reflect the law at the time the content was written and may no longer be current. Always verify the latest version of the law before relying on it.