If my roommates signed my name onto a year lease without my consent, can I legally get out of it?
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If my roommates signed my name onto a year lease without my consent, can I legally get out of it?
I was not present at the time of the lease signing and never gave consent; lease signed 9 months ago.
Asked on August 12, 2011 California
Answers:
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 12 years ago | Contributor
Generally speaking, NO ONE can sign your name for you or obligate you to a lease or other contract without your consent (e.g. if someone has a power of attorney you executed in their favor, that's different). If you can prove that, normally you could get out of the lease. What clouds it is that you say the lease was signed nine months ago. If you have been residing in the premises during that time, you actions--living there as if you were on the lease--would almost certainly be taken to signify your acceptance of the lease and ratify your signature on it. If you'd tried to get out right away, you'd be in good shape; but if you've been living there effectively under the lease for 3/4 of a year, it's doubtful that you can now claim that you never agreed to it.
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