Ask Me Help Desk - Sticky situation with ex-girlfriend

Okay, I have looked all over the internet for a while now and cannot find anything. I do not think typical landlord-tenant laws apply to my situation, but this is the closest to what I am going through. Here we go.

So a couple of months ago, my girlfriend and I moved to VA together. I bought a house, all the paperwork is solely in my name. She doesn't pay any bills, doesn't have her car registered in VA, but has a VA license with my address on it. We are in the process of breaking up and she is moving back out of state. Because of some situation with a cruise we were supposed to go on in January '07, I have paid her friend $1,050 for my ticket, which was booked on her friend's credit card. If I (her friend) cancels the ticket today, she will get a $650 refund. I paid $800 8 months ago to cover what she was charged for my girlfriend's deposit as well as mine with the agreement that I would later pay off the rest of my cruise and my girlfriend would repay her friend for her complete ticket. In the process of moving, however, I lost the two receipts for the money orders that I gave to her friend for the cruise. I did pay off the remainder in September with a $250 check, which I have a record of. I suspect I will never see this money again because I lost the money order slips, so I have no record of paying her. While the money would be nice to have back I realize I have made a couple mistakes and am not expecting it back.

She does have a good number of things in my house however. There is a TV stand, dining room table, vanity, a dresser, and a bunch of small stuff. I am pretty sure she is going to end up leaving most of the large items in my house and maybe coming back for them. I would like to know what responsibility I have for her belongings. Best-case secario, I would like to agree with her that I keep them and let her keep my paid cruise ticket, but she is not in a bargaining mood. I plan on having the locks changed, but would like to avoid the situation where I have her things in my house and have to make arrangements with her to come get them at some point in time. Is there any period that I am legally liable to keep her things in my house? Could I, for example, have them moved to a storage space if she doesn't want my cruise ticket in trade? Is there any period after which they would legally become mine? Any other sticky situations you guys see that I should be prepared for?

Thank you in advance for the help.

Even though you are entitled to a full refund you may not get your wish. For this is "her friend" I'm guessing she is in the same mood of your ex. You should however try to settle this with her friend alone. As for the belongings, if she doesn't want to accept the trade and leaves the large stuff there I would keep them at your house for about a month. Then if she hasn't came back for them and you haven't had contact you may keep them, give it away or put them in a storage on your expense.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ax37065

Okay, I have looked all over the internet for a while now and cannot find anything. I do not think typical landlord-tenant laws apply to my situation, but this is the closest to what I am going through. Here we go.

So a couple of months ago, my girlfriend and I moved to VA together. I bought a house, all the paperwork is solely in my name. She doesn't pay any bills, doesn't have her car registered in VA, but has a VA license with my address on it. We are in the process of breaking up and she is moving back out of state. Because of some situation with a cruise we were supposed to go on in January '07, I have paid her friend $1,050 for my ticket, which was booked on her friend's credit card. If I (her friend) cancels the ticket today, she will get a $650 refund. I paid $800 8 months ago to cover what she was charged for my girlfriend's deposit as well as mine with the agreement that I would later pay off the rest of my cruise and my girlfriend would repay her friend for her complete ticket. In the process of moving, however, I lost the two receipts for the money orders that I gave to her friend for the cruise. I did pay off the remainder in September with a $250 check, which I have a record of. I suspect I will never see this money again because I lost the money order slips, so I have no record of paying her. While the money would be nice to have back I realize I have made a couple mistakes and am not expecting it back.

She does have a good number of things in my house however. There is a TV stand, dining room table, vanity, a dresser, and a bunch of small stuff. I am pretty sure she is going to end up leaving most of the large items in my house and maybe coming back for them. I would like to know what responsibility I have for her belongings. Best-case secario, I would like to agree with her that I keep them and let her keep my paid cruise ticket, but she is not in a bargaining mood. I plan on having the locks changed, but would like to avoid the situation where I have her things in my house and have to make arrangements with her to come get them at some point in time. Is there any period that I am legally liable to keep her things in my house? Could I, for example, have them moved to a storage space if she doesn't want my cruise ticket in trade? Is there any period after which they would legally become mine? Any other sticky situations you guys see that I should be prepared for?

Thank you in advance for the help.

Send out some letters to her by certified mail. That's when a letter is sent and she has to sign for it. That way you know she got them and you have receits from post office showing proof of delivery. It helps you prove your case just for your protection later on showing intent to resolve issue. You write her letters with a dead-line date on the removal of furniture and you will charge a storage fee in the amount of ---- a day. You are entitled to it. Be specific on the reply to be done by email or certified mail. That way you have proof to help you in the future. Don't take phone calls unless she calls and leaves on message on the answering machine. After adequate attempts take the funiture due to no storage money holding furniture. Get a list of prices concerning storage fees and accress amount by the amount of items. Some people need large storage and some need small. Find out rates first.