I thought my husband was divorced from his first wife and we married. After two years, we received the final newly signed divorce documents....

Question

I thought my husband was divorced from his first wife and we married. After two years, we received the final newly signed divorce documents.

We live in Ohio. Is our marriage valid or not?

Answer

In Ohio, from the facts that you describe, your marriage would not be valid because there was an impediments to the marriage at the time of the ceremony, that being the previous marriage had not ended.

In order to protect yourself as far as being able to get legal benefits upon your husband's death relying upon your status as being his wife, you should go and get married, even if that is just before a justice of the peace.

Very truly yours,

Eric E. Willison