Q&A

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 entire 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. BUT, my husband says that if I want a divorce, he will not give me any shares of the apartment. 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 sum 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 eight-year-old son that we share taking care of him. My wife has moved into her 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, Aug 2005. We were told that property distribution did not need to be done as 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 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 anything can I do 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 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 affair 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 my 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 the responsible one at home? Should I file for separation if I ask him to leave the house?

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Hi. I live in NY, have been with my husband for 16 years, and married for 14. The house that we live in was my grandmother’s house, which was passed to my parents. I bought the house for $1 from my parents one month after my marriage, as it was a stipulation in their divorce. I have lived in the house my entire life. The deed and the mortgage are both in my name alone. He worked throughout the marriage, but jumped from job to job and hardly contributed any money toward the bills. He spent everything he made on himself and his toys. My question is: What chance do I have to keep the house and not have to give him anything? There are two children, and they will be staying with me. Thank you for any information you can provide.

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My husband and I have been married 12 years. I have a 19-year-old daughter and a 15-year-old son from a prior marriage. We have an 11-year-old together. My husband has never contributed monetarily or emotionally to the raising of my two older children. He has also not financially to the expenses of our 11-year-old. The only items he’s contributed to are $800.00 for summer camp and 1/2 of his football tuition (for the first time this year), I alone pay for my daughter’s full-time college tuition/board and expenses. I buy all of the children’s clothing, shoes, spending money, car, etc.
• My husband pays most of the household bills, and I pay approximately $ 2000 per month toward the mortgage (he pays about $400). I also buy all the food for the house. I desperately want a divorce and have instituted proceedings 2x’s. We start counseling, and nothing changes. My husband will NOT leave the house, and I am having a tough time handling living w/ him. Can I leave the house with my two children (the oldest is away at school)? I would stay in the same town, so I am not attempting to keep him from his child, I merely cannot live w/ him anymore. Also, I make substantially more than my husband, approximately $136,000 (inc. bonus) to his $70,000. This is the reason he gives for the total disparity in the amount of money he contributes. However, due to the difference in our expenses, he has more disposable income than I do. Also, I have made all repairs to the house. He will not pay for anything, and my house is falling into disrepair. Please advise.

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My divorces become final in August of 2006. In my divorce decree, it states that my ex-husband has to transfer the house into my name and to remove his name from the house. It also says that he has to transfer the deed into my name within 30 days. As you can see, it is well past 30 days. What can I do to get the house in my name? Also, can I sell the house even if he hasn’t signed the papers to transfer (my name was never on the house) and only use the divorce decree to sell the house?

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