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unmarried couples rights to home deed

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cornellas | 06:09 Thu 25th Aug 2005 | How it Works
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my partner and I split after living together for 3 years. We purchased a home together and my name is on the title. What are my rights to the home now that we are apart? She is paying the mortgage and I continue to pay the utilities even if I'm not living there. My entire paycheck went to her from day one.
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It is not something you can really quantify, if you cannot sort it out between you then you would have to get it sorted out legally, which could end up quite expensive.  I would go to the CAB or get a free half hour consultation with a solicitor if you can as it could all get quite difficult the longer it goes on, especially if you are continuing to have outgoings on the property.  Best thing would be for her to buy you out I would have thought, but if she can't afford to run the place without you then I can see trouble ahead, especially if she maybe met someone else and he moved in. 

For this short term I would ask each,

Q, "What did you bring into the relationship?" A, might be personal jewelry, watches, or property.

Q, "What have you purchased jointly?" A, might be house, car etc.

Subsequent to your split, all assets aquired jointly should be split evenly.  If you have come to an understanding as to what each of you should carry on paying for that's fine but from what you describe it sounds like you've got the thin end of the bargain.  Do you need to support her with your paycheck, do you mean from day one of your relationship or the split?  Why do you pay the utilities if you don't live there?  Can either of you afford to buy the other out?  Your rights to the home are 50% at the split but as time goes on if there is a difference between your contributions then the balance may shift.

Personally I would split everything aquired after getting together straight down the middle asap and hold onto your personal gear brought into the relationship.

Moraly, if you bought the house together and paid more or less the same into it financialy then a 50% split would be fair.

If the house was in ONE name and you're not married then I believe you have to be together (common law) for 5 yrs. (anyone correct me if I am wrong).
Things can get messy and you will need PROOF of what you paid.. receipts, bank statements, etc.
Seeing the local CAB should be your first port of call, though some of them are not very good and don;t give correct advice, while other CAB ppl are brilliant.
FYI, I asked a few solicitors about this "free half hour" and none of them did such a thing... My divorce solicitor, �150 per hour plus VAT.

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