Can My Soon-To-Be-Ex Legally Take the House I Inherited?

You may have inherited a house prior to your marriage or even during the marriage. Provided that you have not placed your spouse on the Deed to this house, then your soon-to-be ex-spouse does not have any legal right to the house. However, they may have some rights to be financially compensated.

If you did place your spouse on the Deed, then the house may be considered a marital asset that has to be equitably divided (not necessarily 50/50, but in a “fair” manner).

Even if you didn’t place your spouse’s name on the Deed, if your spouse can show that they paid the mortgage or other expenses for the house, then they may be entitled to financial compensation. For example, if the mortgage was paid from your spouse’s own bank account, then they may be entitled to receive some monies from the eventual sale of the house or from the divorce.

Therefore, if you inherited a house or any type of asset, you should make sure not to place your spouse on the deed. You will also want to keep an accounting of how the expenses were paid for the house.

David Badanes and the Badanes Law Office, P.C., have helped hundreds of clients in protecting their inherited homes. If you have questions regarding any property that you inherited, and how to protect it, contact David Badanes and the Badanes Law Office, P.C. David Badanes and the Badanes Law Office’s phone number is 631-239-1702, email at david@dbnylaw.com or visit on Facebook to get important legal news, tips and articles: www.facebook.com/BadanesLawOffice.