I've been coomonlaw less than 2years... I sold my house of 16yrs and used my money to buy a house in both are names... the down payment came solely from the sale of my house. He did not contribute one dime... the relationship is done.. He says he is going to take have the house does he have the right to do that... I pay the mortgage on the house..

Help... All He had when we entered into the house was his jeep and t.v!!

Thanks Lynne

First, what state are you in? Very few states still acknowledge commonlaw relationships. However, you made the mistake (BIG mistake) of putting his name as co-owner of the house. That entitles him to a half interest in the house.

You may be able to sue showing that the house was purchased and paid for solely by you. So you need an attorney.

[QUOTE=MANGO_OIL]I've been coomonlaw less than 2years... I sold my house of 16yrs and used my money to buy a house in both are names... the down payment came solely from the sale of my house. He did not contribute one dime... the relationship is done.. He says he is going to take have the house does he have the right to do that... I pay the mortgage on the house..

Help... All He had when we entered into the house was his jeep and t.v!!


Very few States have "commonlaw" any more - and I would have to see if any recognize "commonlaw" after only 2 years.

That being said - you were not married, you are 2 individuals who bought a house together, you are each entitled to half. I don't know how he thinks he is going to "take" the house - no Court is going to get involved in splitting up your possessions, including the house.

If you were married and sold a house to buy a house in joint names you would have a pretty good chance of getting your money back but in a boyfriend/girlfriend relationship there is pretty much no law covering the situation and no Court handles matters of this sort.

They could be in Canada where common law is used a lot more ?

But many in the US have a false idea of common law because of old laws no longer on the book.

So the original poster will have to let us know where they are from.

If there is a actual common law relationship, they they go to divorce court and the court will decide what happens to the house.

I almost hope that is the case, since if there is no legal common law status, she is just stuck, he owns 1/2 of the house and it is going to be almost impossible to get him to sign his 1/2 over to it.