(no subject)

[apocalypsos]

Jerry Orbach's dead?! *whimper*

In other news, can I stay home and write? Pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeease? What do you mean, 'No'? Hmph. Killjoys.

EDIT: You want to divorce your abusive husband? Not a problem. Oh, wait, you're pregnant. Sorry, no divorce. After all, your kid needs an abusive a father. Like whispersinink said, aren't you thrilled we're getting rid of those activist judges? *end sarcasm*

Comments

[dolimir-k.livejournal.com]

While your concern is a valid one, it rarely happens. In today's society, women are learning that you can leave an abusive man.

Even if a man did rape his wife to stay married to her, it would only last until the baby was born. If she wanted a divorce, she would be able to get one at that point. Also, if she could prove the rape, there are very few courts that would look kindly on such a situation. Most courts would bend over backwards to keep her and her child safe.

[fyrdrakken]

Most courts would bend over backwards to keep her and her child safe.

Except, apparently, ones in Spokane, Washington.

[paranoidgrl.livejournal.com]

What is it about divorce that you think will keep her safe?

[fyrdrakken]

Actually, I think her restraining order will do more towards keeping her safe than the divorce will. But my father had a divorce that stretched on for a couple of years between my stepmother filing and finally signing the papers, so I got to see second-hand how badly it fucks up your ability to handle your finances. There are obviously going to be differences between the states of Washington and of Texas, but this country's laws are set up with the legal assumption that a husband's and wife's finances are joined when they marry, and it ties one's hands in nifty ways regarding what you can risk doing with your money while in that legal limbo of the divorce not being finalized yet. Also, I'm betting that custodial arrangements (for the two kids that are presumably the husband's, at least) won't be settled till the divorce is final, and though I think the odds of her getting sole custody under the circumstances are pretty good (what with him having various convictions including for domestic violence), the sooner she can get that settled I think the less likely he'll realize that if he can swing visitation rights that'll force continued contact or if can snatch one or two from school he's got a hostage to use against her.

If nothing else, I found it significant that she wanted the divorce final before he gets out of prison. It hints to me of arrangements she wants to make to keep herself away from him that aren't possible while she remains legally bound to him.