Divorce from my country

[camifree 2]

Hello,

I guess many of you have read my story already. I had to leave my American husband in May 2008, and since we got married in Maryland, we cannot file for divorce but after 12 months of separation. I had a bunch of accumulated (sp?) miles, so I was able to get a round-trip ticket in order to spend the holidays with my family in Venezuela. I know the situation is very hard here (Chávez, insecurity, inflation, etc.), but all in all, it is my country. I only went to the USA to be with the person I loved the most, and it did not work. I had no further interest.

I am very close to deciding to stay permanently in my country, but I do not know if I can get divorced from here. I will have to talk to a lawyer, I know. I was just wondering if anyone has gone through something similar. Plus, if I end up being able to do it, what happens with my things? What happens with everything that I have invested there? Because in three years I have worked my butt off to pay mortgage, his grad school tuition, and things with which spouses usually help each other. I know I am legally entitled to the product of my work; I sacrificed a lot of things to be with him, I compromised everything. On one hand, I just want my life back and to move on, but on the other hand, I also think it would not be fair to let him walk with all my effort, work and emotional compromise.

Am I totally out of my mind for having such questions? What would you do?

Thanks for any input.

[Old Dominion 26]

No doubt this will need to be decided by Maryland standards in a court of law. A good Venezuelan lawyer might have contacts in Maryland to collaborate with.