Jeanne PhillipsDEAR ABBY: Many wives write you about problems with their husbands who drink too much. If they live in a community property state, there’s something important they need to know. If the husband drives drunk and causes an injury, both the wife and husband may be named as co-defendants – even if the wife wasn’t involved. And if the injured party is successful in the lawsuit, the co-defendants together must pay.
Wives who tolerate their husband’s refusal to stop drinking need to be aware of the economic hammer the law could have hanging over them. I just went through this experience. Had I known the law in our community property state would lump me in, I would have had a powerful reason to divorce my husband years ago after I realized he would never give up drinking. – GETTING THE WORD OUT IN PHOENIX
DEAR GETTING: Thank you for teaching me and my readers something. If someone has a spouse of EITHER sex with an alcohol problem who gets behind the wheel of a car, for their own protection, they should consult their lawyer and their insurance agent about what the ramifications could lead to.
DEAR ABBY: I’m a sophomore in high school, and I’m in love with a senior. I met him a year ago when we had some classes together. We liked each other, but because of our age difference, we never dated.
I thought I would get over him over the summer, but I didn’t. We don’t see each other at all this year, and I’m almost sure he’s moved on. I feel like I need to move on, too, but deep down I really don’t want to. I’m worried I’ll never find someone I like as much as him. Help me get on with my life. – TOTALLY STUCK IN MONTANA