When a couple marries, they usually expect the union to last forever. But for many couples, divorce is the best path out of a bad relationship. Infidelity, addiction and financial problems are often at the root of a marital split, and in some cases, spouses come to realize they don’t know each other nearly as well as they thought they did.

Between June and November of 2011, four men found that they were married to the same woman. The men claim that the 32-year-old Texas woman, alleged to be a bigamist, has caused major problems in their lives. One of the men said he believed she simply moved from man to man for financial gain.

A news channel interviewed the woman in June 2012. During the interview, she stated that she knew she was committing bigamy and that she suffered from memory problems due to an existing medical condition. She went on to say that she had never taken anything from the men illegally and that she had followed the law by filing for divorce from all four of the men. The woman insisted that she had walked away from two of the marriages due to abuse.

The police apprehended her on charges of bigamy on Nov. 15, 2012, but she was released the same day. According to authorities, she was supposed to appear in court on Jan. 28 but failed to do so, and as a result, a warrant for her arrest was issued by the court.

Divorce is difficult enough when the facts of the case are clear, but it can be extremely complicated when the marriage itself is in question. Those who are facing unusual circumstances at the end of a marriage should do their homework and gain a good understanding of the law so that they can protect themselves and their assets.

Source: KLTV 7, “Warrant issued for East Texas woman charged with bigamy,” Marshall Stephens, Jan. 30, 2013

Jimmy Jimmy

Jimmy Vaught

Board-Certified in Family Law and Civil Appellate Law By the Texas Board of Specialization