Separation
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Separation
My partner and I have been in a relationship going on 4 years. He recently received a settlement and it was deposited into our joint account. He has informed me that he will be moving those funds unto an account with only his name in it. He later informed me that it will be for a home and that the home will not even have my name on it. We have a son together and he encouraged me to stop working and devote myself into being a stay at home mother. Therefore these signs that he is showing me a red flags for me, for maybe a seperation happening. How can i protect myself? If we seperate i am left with nothing. Not even money for rent.
Asked on August 2, 2017 under Family Law, Illinois
Answers:
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 6 years ago | Contributor
In your state, if you are not married, you have no right to his settlement or any other assets or monies he earned himself; have no right to support from him (e.g. spousal support, since you are not married); no right to housing or home from him, or to be on the title to any house he buys; etc. In short, an unmarried partner has no claims against her partner's income or assets, which is why no one should be the dependent person in a non-married relationship like this: either get married, so you have rights, or make sure you can support yourself without your partner, should he leave you.
If you have a child together, you *would*, however, be entitled to child support from him, and a family law attorney can help you get that if necessary. Good luck.
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