My common-law husband of 14 years moved out and left to care for both of his elder parents over a year and a half ago. His dad has dementia, and has declined. Also, three of his siblings are fighting over the parents' estate, with one brother actually having stolen their property with a quit claim deed. My husband has been in and out of court all this time, dealing with the police coming over. The brothers call the cops all the time to try running him off. And now the same brother who stole his parent's property is now filing for guardianship. While all this drama happened, my mother, who was only 67 passed away from cancer. I was her caregiver, but she wasn't really sick until the very end. My husband visited when she passed, but he refused to stay for the funeral, so this whole time, I have been left to grieve by myself, take care of my widowed dad, which has been very hard, and hold down the fort. My husband still pays a lot of our bills, because he gets residual income from insurance sales. He never will come visit, though, and always expects me to drive to him. The last time I went down to see him, we ended up in a big fight, because I wanted him to spend some alone time with me, and I rented a hotel. He refused to stay with me at the hotel, and never would leave his parent's house. He expects me to stay at his parents house 24/7 when I am down there and the house is awful. It's old, decrepit and has roaches and rats. He has a woman that helps him during the week, but she has been flaky lately and keeps calling in sick. My birthday is coming up next week and I asked my husband to come home to visit. He refused and told me that I am going to have to come to him, because he is scared his parents might fall, or need him. I am so lonely and depressed that I can barely function. He always turns things around on me and says that I am losing patience with him. Also, when I went down there last time he said some horrible things to me when we had that fight. He told me that he was pretty much "over" me, because we had been living apart for more than 15 months anyway, and that I was just a selfish b*tch who only goes to the gym and lives in luxury at my dad's house while he is suffering living alone with his parents' house and has no help. He also kicked me out of his parents' house that night, and made me go sleep at the hotel by myself. I ended up begging him back. I am stuck. I love him, and don't want to give up a 14 year relationship, but I am suffering beyond comprehension. His parents will always come first. Me, not so much. What should I do? Am I the one with no patience? He makes me feel like I am doing something wrong. In December it will be two years he has been gone, and he has only come home to visit three times. Also, we are not intimate anymore. He blames me sometimes and says it is because I nag him all the time. He also says it is because he has a lot on his mind. I feel like I am so unattractive now, even though I am only 42 years old, no kids, attractive and try to keep fit. He is 10 years older, quit working out and eats nothing but junk. I do nothing but worry every night about his health and stress. I don't know what to do, and my heart is hurting. Just to add, I do all the paperwork, computer stuff he needs, filing taxes, etc. You name it, I do it. We are four hours apart, but any time he calls me, I drop whatever I am doing and do whatever he tells me to do. I am his personal assistant, always have been. I guess I feel used too.
TEXAS
Common Law Marriage: Yes. Requirements: (1) A man and woman who want to establish a common-law marriage must sign a form provided by the county clerk. In addition, they must (2) agree to be married, (3) cohabit, and (4) represent to others that they are married.
Same-Sex Marriage: No
Domestic Partnership / Civil Union: Same-sex and different-sex couples can register a domestic partnership in Travis County. You do NOT need to be a resident of the county to register.
Living Together/Cohabitation: Legal
State Bar Contact – Find A Lawyer: State Bar of Texas
Free or Low Cost Legal Services: Texas Law Help – Family Law
Just so you know...he has no obligations to you. You don't even receive his social security benefit when you reach 65....cause you were not married.
Honestly, I believe that a commitment is marriage....anything else is just fine till he takes a walk.
I believe you are being used....and have been for 14 years. This is just the newest installment..
It sounds like there is a lot of drama there in his family. First, do you want to be a part of that?
I am really sorry about your mom. You made a good point that her loss might be making you afraid of losing anyone else. Instead of thinking about "losing" your husband, why don't you instead start thinking of what you want for yourself, and start tryng to build that life? Just doing one thing at a time to make your house more your space, or getting accounts in your own name...it doesn't need to be one big swoop. Just little steps so that as things progress you will be ok whether he stays where he is or whether he gets his parents' situation under control and comes back.
Your husband has a choice to extricate himself from the situation. There may be assistance for them that would get them help in their home (though I've heard TX is behind in the times when it comes to healthcare programs -- not sure about social services.) He might be in crisis mode and not thinking about your feelings; it is good to give people a little leeway in those situations. I'm about the same age you are, though, and I feel like we are getting to that age with family and our own health where ---- starts to hit the fan, and it is hard to have a partner who can't hold your hand through rough times.
Move along. Consider it a life lesson you've learned.
You do nothing every night but worry about his health and stress? Good heavens, an attractive, fit 42 year old woman who is not in a committed relationship (and you aren't) should be able to find lots more interesting things to do than that.
This relationship is broken. Is it worth fixing? Doesn't sound like it to me, but if it is to you, consider couple counseling. He won't go? Go to counseling yourself and find out why you are putting up with being used. You deserve better.