My husbant has abandoned our family over two years now

Hi Im Christine and Im Greek and live in Athens Greece.My husbant is American, we got married in Greece July 2008 and we have a 3,5 year old son.My husbant used to live in Florida,where is he now i do not know he has abandoned me and our son over two years now.No visitation, no phonecalls, no financial help at all,nothing.For all I know he could be dead.I started the divorce procedure with the Greek law since we got married in Greece.I really need to give my son the american citizenship,since hes half american and maybe if it is possible for me to get it too.I know that the American parent can do that for his child but he has dissapeared! Can anyone give me some advice please?

sookie960:

Can anyone give me some advice please?

I can only suggest that you carefully go through any type of papers (identifying him) that he might have left behind in Greece, to help track him down in Florida.

If you have any such documents, present them to your lawyer in your home country. 

He or she should be able to guide further (example: If there is an International Treaty for Child Support Enforcement with your home country, etc.).

Off the top of my head, when your son reaches the age of 18, he MIGHT be granted a U.S. Greencard - solely based on the fact his father is a U.S. citizen, IF he can prove (via Birth Certificate, etc.)

If your goal is to immigrate to the U.S., then I can only suggest you start the legal process now.  Be aware if your husband dosen't want to be found, you might face a long and costly search. 

thank you for your answer.Well I have a copy of his passport and his social security number.Im not sure he works and i know he doesn't have any property like a house r sth,maybe a car im not sure.

I don't plan to immigrate to the U.S at least not now.I need my son to get the american citizeship so he can get a monthly ''allowance'' or financial benefit since he's underaged and that would be such a relief for me since im a single mom and unemployed.

I also think he doesn't want to be found. I tried to reach him through his family but I only received a bunch of lies.

I want to consult my lawyer, but this will cost me a lot.

Well, as far as I know, IF he is working legally in the U.S., his employer is reporting his wage earnings to the Internal Revenue Service (I.R.S.), via his Social Security Number.  That might be a starting point in your search.

His U.S. Passport could be another avenue to obtain a FL Driver Liscense - which could lead to his home address.

Don't give up.

The US has no jurisdiction over the case so you cannot proceed in the US.

sookie960:

I need my son to get the american citizeship so he can get a monthly ''allowance'' or financial benefit since he's underaged and that would be such a relief for me since im a single mom and unemployed.

Does the Greek government provide this?  The USA government provides some types of benefits but you would have to reside in the USA and meet income qualifications in order to get them.  They do not provide these benefits to people outside the country.  

What your son would be entitled to would be child support but you would have to know where your husband is and file a child support case against him as part of the divorce.

Is that because we were married in Greece?

Laymans guess:

More importantly, you might seek to get a valid Greek court order for Dad to pay  XXX in support and have that order domesticated into the state (court)  where Dad lives; you probably have pretty decent odds with modern search sites to locate him by name and a few minor details Doesn't mean you instantly collect--its never quite that simple.

Unless you have a pressing desire to get remarried --I might not rush to get divorced --as his spouse you may be entitled to a variety of benefits down the road like SS  or even now if he became disabled or died.

There are no financial benefits your son would get from the American government. Greece has jurisidiction. Obvious response is you need to find some employment where you are and support him. It is going to be alot of work to track your husband down an file for child support and getting him to actually pay might be another battle.

sookie960:

Is that because we were married in Greece?

No, it's because you are residents of Greece, not the US.  So Greek law is in effect.  I suggest an appt with a local lawyer but be aware that it will be a long process.  The attorney may be able to mtrace him thru his SS# or you can try people search engines like www.zabasearch.com or www.intelius,com

The sleeper question is if Greek law allows  entry of an order w/o service on other party or if it allows for some libral form of service by publication say at last known location --you sort of want a valid Greek order that says pay me and our child  XXX and then domesticate said order where dad actually lives -most units of soverign government give full weight to orders of other nations or gorenments  once domesticated --collection is yet another task .

From what I have heard abou t the law - greece will help you enforce a support order if you get one there I think. If he gets locked up - maybe he will want custody of his child and get back in his life.

Of course that can always be a double edged sword!

Clubpen:

From what I have heard abou t the law - greece will help you enforce a support order if you get one there I think. If he gets locked up - maybe he will want custody of his child and get back in his life.

Of course that can always be a double edged sword!

well according to the Greek law, since he has abandoned our family for over two years now,im entitled to claim for divorce without his participation, and also i demand the 100% of my son's custody ,meaning that u mister are not good to be a father since you left ur son for such a long time.It'a an automatic procedure that will take though almost 12 months to be officially declared.

OliviasMom:

There are no financial benefits your son would get from the American government. Greece has jurisidiction. Obvious response is you need to find some employment where you are and support him. It is going to be alot of work to track your husband down an file for child support and getting him to actually pay might be another battle.

If my son could get the american citizenship,he's an american citizenship, so hes entitled to get a certain benefit from the american goverment,since I raise him by myself, without any assistance from his father.

Well you most certainly are entitled to every possible protection that is available under Greek law--so go for it!

But in your shoes I'be interested/concerned about getting a valid Greek order that says Dad owes Euros XXX per month plus XX% APR interest starting as of x/y/z plus collection costs and attorney fees or whatever plus college  --thru such age and education(college) as is consistent with Greek law --you never can tell if you might be able to find Dad and nail him with the order!!  Both alimony and child support.