What are my rights regarding a house that my ex fiancé and I shared?
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What are my rights regarding a house that my ex fiancé and I shared?
My fiance wants me out of a house we have shared for the last 9 months. I am not on the deed to the house. I do however pay him $200 a month towards to go towards the house payment. I also pay the gas, water, electric, sewage, trash, and cable bill. What are my rights, if any?
Asked on June 30, 2016 under Real Estate Law, Indiana
Answers:
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 8 years ago | Contributor
You don't have any rights to the home:
1) Not being on the deed, you are not legally an owner.
2) Being a fiance is not a legal relationship the way being married is; being a fiance gives you no rights to the home.
3) Paying certain bills or paying $200/month towards the house payment would give you no rights to the home; at most, it would qualify you as a "tenant" (someone who paid to live there), but without a written lease for a definite term, the landlord (your ex-fiance) could require you to leave on 30 days notice, then evict you if you won't; therefore, the most this might do is delay the process somewhat and force him to bring a quick court action (eviction actions are designed to be fast and easy) to get you out--but if he does this, you'll then have an eviction on your background check if you look to rent, which could hurt you on future rentals.
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