Q&A

My husband and I have been married for seven months and are already discussing divorce. We should not be married to each other. My question is his parents offered to help us by paying for the wedding or by getting us into a house. We opted for the house, and it was purchased. The mortgage is in his parents’ name as well as his. I was led to believe that once we were married, my name would be added to the deed; it was not added. I changed my mind about having children (don’t want to), and that is why we are discussing the idea. I have contributed to half of the financial responsibility, but I am not on the deed. Should I stop contributing? The insurance policy, however, lists me as a primary insured. I have been contributing half of the payments to the mortgage, even though my name is not on the deed. I am wondering if I have any entitlement to the property. We have made improvements to the house during our engagement and were led to believe that the house down payment was a “wedding gift.” Who gives a gift to just the groom? Anyway, the house has increased in value. If we sell, am I entitled to the money at all, only the increased value, or to all of it or none of it?

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My husband and I have been married for ten years. We live in Manhattan, New York City, and have two children, ages 5 and 7. I have been the primary provider for the family and make about $80,000 a year. My husband makes about $20,000 a year. During our marriage, he completed a Ph.D. while I worked full time, and had promised to contribute more after finishing, but four years later, he has not got a better paying job. We bought a coop apartment that is worth about $400,000 more now than when we bought it. My family gave us the money for the down payment, and I have made all the mortgage payments since, but both our names are on the papers. My family also gave us about $40,000 in stocks that we have had to sell. We have no money in savings. We now both want to get separated or divorced, and my husband wants to sell the apartment and divide up the profit equally. I do not want to move and would not be able to afford a similar place to move with the children, who would certainly stay with me. Renting a similar home would cost about twice as much as I am paying monthly, and would be a waste of all the profits from the house, in my opinion. I would be willing to refinance the apartment and give him money to get himself started, but not $200,000, and I think he will not agree to that. Would I be forced to sell my apartment?

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I have several questions. I want to pursue having a legal separation. My wife and I want to do this as cheaply as possible, but we want to protect our interests and our children’s interests. I want to maintain joint ownership of the home (as property). I want my wife and the kids to continue to live in our present home. The home is our primary investment. Neither of us can afford to buy our share of the house from the other. 
, I expect to be named as a beneficiary in a relative’s Will. My wife is more financially secure than I am, so I want to make sure I receive the entire inheritance.t If we get a legal separation, will I be required to divide the inheritance with my wife? 

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My husband and I own two homes in two different states just recently he changed the locks on the second house. Can he legally do this without my knowledge? I asked him what he was doing at the house, and he said he was just checking on things. Do I legally have the right to call a locksmith and enter the home? He hasn’t mentioned he wants a divorce, but all his actions tell me differently. At this point, I do not believe he has contacted an attorney, but I just want to make sure I go about things properly.

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Right now, my wife and I are still married, but my wife doesn’t want to be with me. We bought a house while we were married in New York State. All the assets, including the house are in my name. Is it possible to sell my house without splitting the money of the house even though the deed is in my name? Would it also matter if there are no divorce papers yet? I am the one who pays all the bills for the house and maintains it; will my wife still get 1/2? If I can prove this, will this stand up in court? Are there any other legal issues regarding the house that I should be aware of? Thank you for all your help I appreciate all the information you can provide.

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Hi, I have a question regarding financial issues and would like to know if you can help me with it. My husband and I have been married for over five years, but no children. We live in NY. During our marriage, we have had too many fights, and I can’t take it anymore. I have been working full-time throughout the marriage, but my husband makes about ten times more than I do. We purchased an apartment together AFTER our marriage, and it is under both of our names. My husband says that if I want a divorce, he will not give me any shares of the apt. He had an apartment before our marriage (not in my name) and sold it to buy this apartment. He claims that he contributed much more money to the down payment and mortgage than me, and therefore I will not be granted half of the apt. However, I do contribute to the monthly maintenance (about 1/3 of the monthly mortgage payment), as well as many of our household expenses. My question is: will I be granted half of the market value of the apt? My husband also has stocks and bonds (some purchased after the marriage), investments in restaurants as well as real estate properties (also some after the marriage), retirement, a large amount of cash reserves in saving accounts/CDs. But all accounts are under his name regardless before or after the marriage. Am I entitled half of the money/profits he earned AFTER we got married (we have no prenup)? Also, although I can support myself, once we separate or have a divorce, I will not be able to afford to buy an apt. Will I be granted any spousal support? Many thanks!

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My wife and I have been separated for the last year and six months, and we have an 8-year-old son that we share taking care of him. My wife has moved into her own apartment while I’m still in the house. I guess my question is I would like to retain the house or if I decided to sell it can I get a little more scene I been paying all the bills for the last 18 months and if there anything I can do to keep the house because we were not married when we first move in the house and she still has the maiden name on the deed .

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My ex-wife and I filed for an uncontested divorce in PA. It was finalized last year. We were told that the property’s legal distribution did not need to be done since both of us wanted to remain in our house with our kids. Now she has had her boyfriend move in, and my boys and I want to move. She says that I am not entitled to anything because the divorce is final. What rights do I have?

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My ex & I divorced in Kansas about 2 yrs ago, she agreed, and I was awarded the house. I did not get the house put in my name because I feared bank reaction. She also did not sign a quitclaim deed, as stated in the divorce decree. She took the paperwork to the house and sat on the Internet and researches divorce stuff. I’d now like to sell and move. She’s holding paperwork hostage and now asking for half of the sale (formerly 1/2 of profit [probably a break-even sale as truck she got-loan rolled into house payments about six months before divorce [approx. $16,000]. Now she just says she wants half of the sale. Neither one of us followed through, as we should have after divorce. I’m not sure I even received official divorce papers, but what if I can do it now. One realtor said take decree to county deed office? Will they require quitclaim? And once again, I’m worried about mortgage co. My credit is not great after divorce, although I’ve been the only one making payments before and after divorce.

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I have been married for 16 years to my current husband. I just recently discovered he is having an affair. This is his second (that I know) affair in the past two years. He wants a divorce. This is the complicated part. Many years back, we had decided that I would stay home to raise our children. When the time came, I did just that. Sixteen years later, eight kids, two college degrees for him, and lost opportunities for career advancement, he decides he doesn’t want this marriage any longer (He is continuing his affair). I am unemployed and need time to develop skills to reenter the job market. He is planning to put the house up for sale and move-on with his life. How can I protect my kids and me from having him leave us homeless and without financial resources? Can I regain some monetary value for helping him advance in his career while I was responsible for maintaining the home? Should I file for separation if I ask him to leave the house?

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