My boyfriend and I have lived together for a year and a half, the house is in his name, but I do pay utilities, all my mail is here, and it is my legal residence. I just caught him in an affair, and we will be going our own ways... as I thought we were committed, and we were making plans for our future, all of my belongings were disposed of when I moved in, at his request... furniture, dishes, TV... etc. it will be a little time before I can get my own place... my question is, how much time do I have, if push comes to shove? How easily can he force me out? I live in PA.

You have probibly 30 days after being served... time to start calling friends or family... its his house... he is legally your landlord. Utilities, mail and stuff only proves you are a tenant there. Its whos name on on the deed or lease that calls the shots.

If you aren't out by 30 days, he goes to court to have it enforced and the SHerrifs will put you and your stuff out at the curb. Like it or not... (realistically it might be a little more than 30 days before they put you out depending on the courts case load)

So seriously... you can't stop it, its going to happen... start looking and making arraingements now. Find a friend you can move in with for a month if you need to.

Sorry if that sounds cold....I don't like sugar coating things or you might not take them as seriously as you need to.

Unless you have a written lease that has been in effect for more than 1 year, he is only required to give you 30 days notice. The notice has to be in writing. And specify the expiration date.

The good news for you is you have very little in belongings. So there won't be much to pack up and, if you can find a friend to stay with, you won't take up much space. But if he does give you 30 days notice, you have to be out as you don't want an eviction on your record. It will make it harder to find a new place.

Once you find a new place, you can use a place like Rent A Center, to get the temporary basics until you can get your own furnishings, etc.

One word of caution.. this is the legal way... in America may boyfriend, girlfriend breakups, do not follow legal evictions. I can not even remember, how many illegal evictions I have had to go, do a police report on.
Girl or boy, is pissed off. And they throw all the belongings of the other, out the front door. For the other to come home and find it.

Once the things are gone, often the DA does not file criminal charges, only tells them to seek damages in civil court.

I am not saying he will do this, just a reminder, that it happens 100's of times a day.

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Originally Posted by Fr Chuck

... often the DA does not file criminal charges, only tells them to seek damages in civil court. ...

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Probably because putting the room-mate's stuff on the curb is not a crime. It is only, arguably, a civil tort.