Need advice re: international divorce/separation

[rosebud]

Hi

l really need some advice regarding international divorce/seperation. My situation is complicated! Here are the details.

I am a scottish woman married to a french man. We were married in Mauritius in 2007 and had a son in 2008. We have been together for 12 years. My son is french but l have applied for his british passport, it is currently pending and may take a while. We moved to the states in January this year. My husband transferred his job so l am here on his 3 year work visa.

Our marriage has hit rock bottom. My husband is verbally abusive, much more so since the birth of our child and refuses to get help. I feel l have no choice but to separate but l have no idea re: my rights. I need to know:

1. Financially, where do l stand? He is the breadwinner, l am a stay at home mum. We have no mortgage or car. Would he have to pay for an appt for me and my son if we separate?

2. Divorce courts - do l have to go through the french courts, mauritian courts or can l go through the scottish court system?

3. Am l able to leave the States? Would l be obliged to go back to France seeing as my son does not yet have his UK passport? Or would it be possible to go back to Scotland (I have not lived there since 2003)?

I feel very powerless and worried about the future so any advice would be really appreciated.

Many many thanks