I need your help and advice...pls..

[desiery 0]

I am filipina living here in the philippines

i was married july 2008 to american citizen who lives in Florida

after the wedding he went back to US and havent seen him only in chat and try skype

after of 5 mos of being far from each other his sister told me that my husband is seeing another girl.(his ex wife well even the first time we met online they are still seeing each other)

but he denied it and after 1 mo he admit it so we got separated he actually asking for a 2nd chance but i decided to let him go..(though its hard but i have too)

so he file for divorce and it was granted july 2009 and knowing that divorce is not valid and need to settled in court

file for petition for foriegn judgement something so that i can remarry again but since im not rich i couldnt afford to hire atty. so currently im still married to him

but just last month his wife sent me an email that my ex husband died last month aug due to cancer

i ask the wife to send me the death cert which she did and i have it with me now...

my question is since i was divorce and it wasnt valid here and i have this death cert now is that mean i am considered as WIDOWED? since legally his still my husband here in the philippines

in the death cert the informant is his wife and it was stated in their relationship so im kinda confused

do i need to inform the NSO for them to adjust my status?

what if i one day found one and marry the man i love is my ex husband death cert is enough?

i dont have boyfriend right now but i am looking forward of finding new love someday so i want things to be settled first before i jump to a new relationship..

your advice/help will be appreciated,,

Thanks in advance...

by the way the death cert is from Dept. of Health Statistics Florida

Edited September 25, 2011 by desiery

[pars 9]

Your situation is kinda complicated because it involves 2 different laws from 2 different countries... I'm no expert when it comes to law but I guess your case boils down to the death of the spouse... I believe that the death of the spouse means termination of marriage. I guess you just need to get an advice from NSO just bring whatever documents you got like marriage contract, the divorce paper (if you got one) although it's not valid in PI it's somehow important if you have a possession of it... And the most important thing the death cert. Don't worry I don't think this would cause too much burden on you... As long as you can prove everything right, I'm sure everything will all be good... God bless and good luck on your life's journey I hope you can also find your life's perfect companion in God's perfect time

[NigeriaorBust 4,087]

I don't knoe much about your laws but here is what seems to be the case. You married that is legal in your country , divorced here which isn't valid in your country and before you could divorce there he died, so your marriage there ended with his death. I guess you are a widow there. In your law do you need to serve the other person to make it legal ?

[Jojo92122 1,924]

This is all speculation. This is an unusual situation that requires an experienced Filipino attorney to sort out.

Under US laws, you are divorced. Your marriage ended in July 2009. You are not a widow.

Philippines laws are another matter. You may need to file to get your foreign divorce recognized.

It's good that you are aware this may cause you problems in the future. You need to get it sort out in the Philippines.

[chinese_mutt 11]

go to NSO, file the death cert, and make sure your status is updated.

it should be the same when a Filipino spouse.

dead is dead, marriage is legally terminated.

whether you had a divorce prior to death or not is now irrelevant they cannot say you are still "married" because then you'd be married to a corpse.

Edited October 2, 2011 by chinese_mutt