Dear Pastor,

I am a 55-year-old man from the US who is currently married to a Jamaican woman. She has abandoned me here in the U.S. I wish her well but I have no contact with her. I have had a non-sexual relationship with another Jamaican woman over the past 5 years in Jamaica. She got married to an American man nearly 15 years ago and he never sent for her.

I love this woman and I would like to marry her someday. Can she get a divorce for abandonment? Can I do the same? I was married in Jamaica and she was as well. Help me find a way.

W. E., Florida, USA

Dear W. E.,

You need to see a lawyer about getting a divorce. It is really not difficult. The lawyer would advise you how it can be done. It is not very expensive to get a divorce in Florida. I hope you remember the date of your marriage. You would need to get copies of the marriage certificate from the Office of the Registrar General in Jamaica.

Your lady friend in Jamaica should also seek the assistance of a lawyer. If she is unable to pay a private lawyer, she should contact the Legal Aid Clinic. The numbers are listed.

Pastor