[turbo060]

My girlfriend and I purchased a house about two years ago, and through the advice of the mortgage company we put the mortgage in her name to get a better rate. The day we closed I had to put her on my bank account so as to prove she had the funds to make the mortgage pmts. She signed a quit claim to me (which we registered with the county) for half ownership on the house. So both our names are on the deed and it's registered. Only her name is on the mortgage which I write her a check every month for half the mortgage pmt including escrow. All the utilities have been in my name since we bought the house and I alone have paid them. Well the relationship has ended and we are still living in the same household. She is sueing me for Quiet Title on the house claiming I am only a renter and numorous other false allegations. I took her off my bank acct. right away by the way! Can a judge make me sign over my interest in the house to her? I have done numorous updates to the house and don't want to lose all the time and money I've invested in the house. I want to keep the house and get the mortgage in my name if possible. There's no way she can afford the house herself. I live here with my son and want to assure we don't get kicked out in the street. I have filed a response to the lawsuit and we go to court in Oct. for a Status Conference. She has called the Police on me and told them that I am just a renter and that I had been served eviction papers and I would not leave. I had to provide proof to them that my name was on the deed and that I can't be served eviction papers as an owner and they left without incident. I was told by legal council that I could stop paying my half of the mortgage and let her deal with it but I feel that this could make me look bad when we go to court. So, I continue to pay my half. I also pay all the other bills, i.e.. Utilities, phone, internet, cable, trash service etc. which she has access to and promised verbally from the start to pay half of but has not contributed to at all. We went into this deal as a 50/50 partnership. This woman has turned into someone I do not even know nor trust. I'm glad I didn't marry her! Whew! That was a close one!
Any suggestions and options you could provide me would regarding this battle would be greatly appreciated! Thanks,

[ScottGem]

As long as you have a quit claim deed signed by her and registered with the county, she is not going to be able to prove you were just a renter. Add the utilities being in your name and she doesn't have a leg to stand on. I would offer to buy out her half of the house and tell her to take a hike.

When you go to court bring copies of all the bills, Checks you wrote her for the mortgage payments, prrof of the expenses you paid on improvements etc.

The fly in this ointment is that she is also a half owner. Therefore you can't evict her either. The only way of getting her out is to buy her out.

[turbo060]

My girlfriend and I purchased a house about two years ago, and through the advice of the mortgage company we put the mortgage in her name to get a better rate. The day we closed I had to put her on my bank account so as to prove she had the funds to make the mortgage pmts. She signed a quit claim to me (which we registered with the county) for half ownership on the house. so both our names are on the deed and it's registered. Only her name is on the mortgage which I write her a check every month for half the mortgage pmt including escrow. All the utilities have been in my name since we bought the house and I alone have payed them. Well the relationship has ended and we are still living in the same household. She is sueing me for Quiet Title on the house claiming I am only a renter and numorous other false allegations. I took her off of my bank acct. right away by the way! Can a judge make me sign over my interest in the house to her? I have done numorous updates to the house and don't want to lose all the time and money I've invested in the house. I want to keep the house and get the mortgage in my name if possible. There's no way she can afford the house herself. I live here with my son and want to assure we dont get kicked out in the street. I have filed a response to the lawsuit and we go to court in Oct. for a Status Conference. She has called the Police on me and told them that I am just a renter and that I had been served eviction papers and I would not leave. I had to provide proof to them that my name was on the deed and that I can't be served eviction papers as an owner and they left without incident. I was told by legal council that I could stop paying my half of the mortgage and let her deal with it but I feel that this could make me look bad when we go to court. So, I continue to pay my half. I also pay all the other bills, ie. utilities, phone, internet, cable, trash service etc. which she has access to and promised verbally from the start to pay half of but has not contributed to at all. We went into this deal as a 50/50 partnership. This woman has turned into someone I do not even know nor trust. I'm glad I didn't marry her! Whew! That was a close one!
Any suggestions and options you could provide me would regarding this battle would be greatly appreciated! Thanks,

Can a Judge or mediator actually make me sign over my interest? I have all the paperwork, copies of checks, bill statements etc. and I believe I have a solid claim on my half ownership on the house but I don't trust the legal sysytem very much! I've seen some pretty crazy stuff happen to people in court! I'm going to follow your advice and offer her a buyout and see what she says! Man, you think you would get to know someone after 2 years! I'll keep you posted! Thanks

[ScottGem]

Well, as you say, a judge can do some weird things. But you have a registered deed. Its hard to get around that.