Baltimore County Family Lawyer Discusses Secret Divorce, 20 Years In The Making
Choosing to get married in Baltimore County is one of the most life-changing decisions you can make. In doing so, you join your resources and aspirations together with another person, altering everything from living style to vacation destinations in an effort to come to a happy compromise with your chosen partner. As a result, most people consider marriage a commitment they intend to keep. And while divorces are common, it’s safe to say that the majority of people do not enter into marriage with any inkling that they may want to file for divorce at some point down the road.
Should divorce occur, it is usually dealt with in a timely fashion. Both parties agree to the split and the legal proceedings go from there. A divorce that takes multiple years to finish is uncommon. So you can imagine that a divorce that is 20 years in the making is downright shocking. One such story sheds light on an unusual case that can offer a lesson for us all.
According to the New York Post, Cristina Carta Villa believed that she was married to her husband, Gabriel Villa for 20 years. They raised a son together and lived a lavish life. However, unbeknownst to her, her husband had secretly divorced her months after they were married, reportedly to protect his assets.
Four months after they were married, he filed for divorce in the Dominican Republic, hiring Aberdeen lawyers to represent both sides and citing, “incompatibility of temperaments” as the reason for divorce. For 20 years, they lived happily in New York, Massachusetts and France, with Cristina never the wiser to what had gone on without her knowledge.
In fact, her divorced state only came to light after she received a tax bill for the Manhattan home they had bought together and her name was not on it. She hired a lawyer to investigate. Her lawyer found that Gabriel had used the secret divorce as proof to support that she did not own the home and to remove her name from the deed.
Deceit Is Not Uncommon
This case is intriguing due to the fact that it is so unusual. While it is not uncommon for spouses to attempt to hide information in order to protect their interests, we rarely see a situation that has gone on for 20 years.
No matter how long a period of deceit, the aftermath is never easy to handle. A Pikesville & Towson family attorney understands how difficult an honest divorce can be. One that involves trickery or lying on the part of one or both spouses can be even worse.
If you’re facing the prospect of a divorce, you can rest assured that we are here to help. Our team is ready and willing to help you through one of the most difficult periods of your life, because we believe in helping our clients get what they deserve.
Call (410) 321-4994 For a Free Consultation
Call The Law Offices of Amar S. Weisman at (410) 321-4994 to schedule a Free Consultation. The Purpose of the consultation is to determine whether you want to retain this law firm as your Baltimore County & Harford County Family Lawyer. If you do wish to proceed, then you must pay a retainer. See Our Policy on Fees and Costs. The family firm is located next to The Circuit Court for Baltimore County, at 1018 Dulaney Valley Road, Towson, MD 21204.
