Wife who I left 4 years ago due to her cheating on me. We never divorced. She went to the hospital in a diabetic coma a few days ago, and her sister texted me yesterday saying that I need to pay half the hospital costs or she would have the police come after me. Am I legally required to pay it?
EDIT: Thanks everyone! I will speak with a lawyer for advice, completely ignore my SIL, and get divorced ASAP.
Lawyer. Today.
Yesterday if possible.
Make no statements, accept no liability.
You can come in here and answer every post in this manner. Unhelpful, but true. So why are you bothering?
I can state unequivocally that a person is not responsible for their spouse’s debt. (If they didn’t sign on the dotted line, obviously.) My gut tells me no way in hell are you responsible for her medical care.
However, a bit of searching reveals:
Texas recognizes the “doctrine of necessaries,” which holds that a spouse has a legal duty to support their partner by providing for their basic necessities, including medical care.
Did not know that!
Since you’ve been separated for so long, there’s no way to tell how a judge would rule on this. In my experience fighting my ex over the divorce and the kids, the length of time apart was a consideration. And that’s would it would come to, a court case down the road. In no circumstances are the cops going to get a warrant and drag you out of your home. This is a civil matter, not criminal.
Your sister-in-law is lashing out in desperation. If she’s saying this on the counsel of a lawyer, she would have said so.
Can’t edit my posts, AGAIN.
I’ll add, do NOT communicate with your SIL over this. Nothing. NADA. STFU. If this comes to a court case, anything you say or text may be drug into court. Texas is a one-party consent state, she can record you without you knowing. Anything you say, text, email, etc., can come back on you. Even so much as, “I’m not discussing this with you.”, can be used to show you’re a heartless bastard. No commo!
Probably not, but a lawyer should advise you. It may be similar to how parents owe child support for kids attending post secondary school, except if the child made expressed actions prior to end the relationship with the parent.
Also as a husband I would pickup my wife’s expenses, however there’s no law saying you have to. Each spouses debt is their own.
Texas also has some common law marriage rules, so it might work in reverse too. Basically if everyone knows your separated, and you present yourself that way, it might be enough, but I’m not a lawyer and would advise you at least to speak to one ASAP.
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