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View Full Version : Co Owning A House, what are my rights?


RenOneTwo
Apr 29, 2007, 01:48 PM
:confused: I'm 57 years old, and a widow. I fell for a man who wanted us to have a house as soon as we could so I put my place up for sale, he put his up for sale in CT, and we bought the house I am now in. I love this house. We however hit a major snag. He simply said his feelings have changed and now he does not want to live here nor be with me. My question is this,. Even though he put in more than I did at the time of the purchase there was no agreement as to he having a percent and me having another percent because he expected us to be married. IF this house sells, don't I have a right to a full half of the profit from that sale? If I refuse an offer other than what was asked, do I have a right to somehow stay in this house? I absolutely love it.

If somehow I can stay, can I take the right away from him to be here since he literally abandoned this place and hasn't been here much at all. Weeks go by. What is my option to the entire nightmare?

ScottGem
Apr 29, 2007, 01:57 PM
First it matters what the deed says. If you are joint tenents, then you own the house equally, absent an agreement to the contrary. However, if he can prove that he put in more of a downpayment, he can probably sue and get that back.

If you love the house, then I would suggest buying him out. Make him an offer.

Fr_Chuck
Apr 29, 2007, 02:34 PM
This is one of the biggest issues of a partnership ( which is what this is) owning a home, you needed to have a written agreement as to what happened to the house if you did not stay together, if you were married there are laws to what happens, but not for unmarried partners.

You will need a local attorney.

RenOneTwo
Apr 29, 2007, 03:52 PM
:confused: I'm 57 years old, and a widow. I fell for a man who wanted us to have a house as soon as we could so I put my place up for sale, he put his up for sale in CT, and we bought the house I am now in. I love this house. We however hit a major snag. He simply said his feelings have changed and now he does not want to live here nor be with me. My question is this,..... Even though he put in more than I did at the time of the purchase there was no agreement as to he having a percent and me having another percent because he expected us to be married. IF this house sells, don't I have a right to a full half of the profit from that sale? If I refuse an offer other than what was asked, do I have a right to somehow stay in this house? I absolutely love it.

If somehow I can stay, can I take the right away from him to be here since he litterally abandoned this place and hasn't been here much at all. Weeks go by. What is my option to the entire nightmare?
The deed simply states given to John Doe an unmarried man, and Ren Smith an unmarried woman. There is no percentage, nothing. So I guess my next step is with a lawyer. By the way I am also paying all the bills here including the mortgage, along with the heat and power at my other place. He's not paying a thing.

ScottGem
Apr 29, 2007, 03:54 PM
Make sure you keep all proofs of what you paid. But I would imagine the deed says more than that. Usuall a deed with say John Doe and Jane Smith as Joint Tenants or similar.