Cousin Coerced Into Marriage Advice Needed

[TheCoralMoose]

My cousin who is 37 met someone 11 months ago.

He is much older but not as old as he said he was at first.

She never intended to marry him just go on dates and she decided not to let him move in her apartment which she owns. He had a house which he owned since learned he gave it to his daughter just after meeting my cousin.

He said he was 45 he is actually 61.

Him and my cousin had a 5 day break booked for las vegas just before she decided she no longer wanted him.
She went ahead with the vegas break because he paid a lot of money for it.

On the day before they were due to fly back she doesnt know if she was spiked or given too much alcohol but he took her very intoxicated to a chapel and they get wed.

On returning home she told him its still over then he shown her the marriage certificate.

She called her mum and dad and they came round told him to get out he said fuck off its my place as much as hers and threatened them.

What can be done?. No its not a joke thread its deadly serious.

He has said because he is older and now his daughter has his house his housing needs will be more than hers because she is younger than him.

Is this something the police will get involved in.

I would encourage her to speak to the police and seek legal advice about divorce. He really is a despicable person! Your poor cousin she needs to be proactive and kick his sorry ass out.

The first thing she needs to do is check that the marriage certificate is real and not some fake one he sourced.

Absolutely speak to the police. I have a feeling that in these circumstances annulment may be easier / cheaper than divorce (not an expert though, sorry).

It is terrible that an official would perform marriage for someone who was clearly too drunk / drugged to consent.

She may be able to get an annulment as she was too drunk to consent to the marriage. It may help her case if she goes to the GP now and says she believes she’s a victim of drunk-spiking (if she really thinks this is likely)

Could she apply for an annulment on the grounds she was too drunk to consent to the wedding?

Get the police involved as quickly as possible and have him removed from the house. Jesus what an arsehole. Check the legality of the marriage certificate as well.

I wonder if she could report the Vegas chapel to the authorities too. They shouldn’t be performing marriages when one or both of the spouses and not in a fit state to consent.

Annulment

Yep, police and legal advice asap.

On the grounds that she was tricked/ coerced she can get an annulment. She needs to seek legal advice immediately. Under no circumstances should she engage with him or let him into her flat. She can also speak to the police if he continues harassing her. His housing situation is absolutely none of her concern....

Blood test to check what's in her system?

Poor girl.

Does she remember the service happening?

How awful for your cousin. Definitely call police and also get urgent legal advice. I’m not an expert but I suspect an occupation order on grounds of domestic abuse/coercive control could be granted to legally exclude him from the house even if they are legally married. And a non molestation order if needed which it may well be. As others have said she may still be able to get the marriage annulled, if not I cannot imagine that a judge would view her property as fairly split 50/50 between them or even more than that in his favour for such a short marriage.

When I got married in vegas u had to go to the court house before the wedding and get a marriage license? Did she do this? Probably not legal otherwise

also needs to be legally registered in the uk

Legal advice ASAP. But you are likely to find out that the wedding is not legally binding. Usually it's more of an experience sort of thing, not an actual marriage.

No. She remembers going into a restaurant then feeling very ill.

She was sick on the plane coming back to the UK.

If it was a vegas wedding is it legal and binding.

Check the validity of the marriage, and if valid she can seek an annulment.

Her property hasn’t automatically become a matrimonial asset, so he’s massively overplaying his hand there. If he’s never lived there it isn’t the matrimonial home, either.

Yes, if Nevada law is adhered to.

Did they obtain a marriage license, and was it performed by a licensed officiant? If no to one or both of these then no, it will not be a legal marriage.

She needs to speak to a solicitor.

She can get an annulment due to lack of consent or non consummation.

Was the marriage consummated ? If not she needs to apply for an annulment. Right now !!

Given it is a short relationship, he is highly unlikely to be entitled to anything at all tbh.

They would have needed to get a marriage license first. So either he didn't get one, as she would have needed to sign it; he fraudulently signed it on her behalf; or if she signed it and doesn't remember, I would imagine it being fairly easy to get annulled. Either way, get the police to get him out the house.

This ... To get a marriage licence both parties must be present when applying and must present valid photo ID. Although it is possible to marry on the same day, she would have needed to be unable to give consent twice - once at the licensing bureau and once at the chapel.

I'd get a copy of the certificate and call the police

Police and legal advice immediately. It sounds like that this may have been fairly recent so there may still be time to find things in her blood or urine.