'common law wife' ? ...

themull1

as far as i know if she moves in and contributes to the running of the house she will be entitled to something if you split up. and most agreements, like pre nups will not stand up in court, i don't think she;s the right one to be moving in if you feel like this tho.

james3333

excellent, thanks for all your input... will look further into it all
ta
:money:

thorsoak

Might I suggest that you print out this thread and show it to your proposed housekeeper/bedmate?

Her plans might change!

Domthemon

Just to say I am in a similar position but my gf is moving 180 miles and giving up her full time job to facilitate the end of the commuting and long distance. Despite having a career she decided to jump back several years to a lower paid part time job to enable me to carry on in my job which I love.

Every situation is different but in my case I appreciate she is giving up a lot to move in with me. Effectively my own disposable income will fall as her income will only just cover her liabilities. She has a house which has relatively little equity which she is renting out. That is complicated by planning application which could see it becoming worth much more if granted.

Anyway not meaning to hijack the thread but sometimes you have to trust and talk and be honest. I can appreciate the once bitten twice shy thing but if you go into a relationship assuming the worst will happen, then it probably will. Prudence is sensible but you do have to have trust too.

zzzLazyDaisy

There is no such thing in England as a 'common law wife'.

If the GF moves in with OP and makes no contribution to the mortgage, and also does not pay for any enhancement to the property, such as an extension, then she will not gain any legal interest in OP's house as long as it remains in his sole name (if he puts her on the deeds/mortgage, then of course that would be different, and if they subsequently marry this also changes everything).

Personally I would not have a formal agreement such as putting her name on the utility bills, and I would not have a regular payment into my bank account. Rather, I would have an agreement that she makes a cash contribution - either by way of an agreed sum each week/month, or that she agrees to buy the food, or something like that.

Whatever, OP and GF should sit down together and agree a way forward, and it is also not a bad idea to record the agreement in writing. I understand where OP is coming from - I own my own home and would be very concerned not to let someone else have a stake in it unless and until I am completely ready to make that commitment. But at the same time, the GF has a child, and needs some level of security and commitment.

Jackinbox99

I went through this a few years back. I was dating a girl, she moved into my house after 6 months and we lived there for 4 years together until we split up. Prior to moving into my house, she was paying £650 a month rent / bills on a flat. So, when she moved in, we had a chat and agreed she would pay me £400 a month towards living in the house. Mortgage & all bills were in my name and I paid for them all. I did a lot of improvements at the house, all paid for myself.

Once we split up, her parents werent happy and got a solicitor to write to me claiming she was entitled to half of my house. Quite where they got that from I dont know, as theoretically she had "saved" £250 a month for 4 years!

Anyway, I consulted 2 seperate solicitors and they both said the same. There is no such thing as commonlaw wife, regardless of how long someone has lived with you.

If your partner had been paying half the mortgage and could prove it, they could be entitled to a small amount. If they had put a lump some into the property then they could be entitled to a % increase in the value of the property based upon the % of the amount they put in compared to property value. But, thats it. Just because they lived with you and paid towards the food / their upkeep doesnt mean they are entitled to anything else.

In my case, because I didnt want any hard feelings, I gave my ex GF about £1500 for her to use as a deposit on her next flat. She actually went out and blew it on a new car and moved back in with her parents - but thats her choice. Technically I didnt have to give her a penny.

james3333

Jackinbox99 wrote: »

I went through this a few years back. I was dating a girl, she moved into my house after 6 months and we lived there for 4 years together until we split up. Prior to moving into my house, she was paying £650 a month rent / bills on a flat. So, when she moved in, we had a chat and agreed she would pay me £400 a month towards living in the house. Mortgage & all bills were in my name and I paid for them all. I did a lot of improvements at the house, all paid for myself.

Once we split up, her parents werent happy and got a solicitor to write to me claiming she was entitled to half of my house. Quite where they got that from I dont know, as theoretically she had "saved" £250 a month for 4 years!

Anyway, I consulted 2 seperate solicitors and they both said the same. There is no such thing as commonlaw wife, regardless of how long someone has lived with you.

If your partner had been paying half the mortgage and could prove it, they could be entitled to a small amount. If they had put a lump some into the property then they could be entitled to a % increase in the value of the property based upon the % of the amount they put in compared to property value. But, thats it. Just because they lived with you and paid towards the food / their upkeep doesnt mean they are entitled to anything else.

In my case, because I didnt want any hard feelings, I gave my ex GF about £1500 for her to use as a deposit on her next flat. She actually went out and blew it on a new car and moved back in with her parents - but thats her choice. Technically I didnt have to give her a penny.

excellent, thanks for that, thats really helpful fella.
MAKES ME FEEL BETTER ABOUT THE WHOLE THING.

CHEERS

leo~saphira

James - I was on the similar path to want you going down sometime last year.

I caught her red handed as she was about to pay a bill of mine via her bank account then it all came out what she was planning to (the scheming little BLEEP! - I showed her the door.

Like you, I have a home with some £££ value in the house and was concerned about her making a stake in my home if we broke up. But I got it in time.

For gawd sake, make sure every bill is in your name and by direct debt (including the phone etc) - I would incline to go down the road of making everything cash as well.

M

james3333

leo~saphira wrote: »

James - I was on the similar path to want you going down sometime last year.

I caught her red handed as she was about to pay a bill of mine via her bank account then it all came out what she was planning to (the scheming little BLEEP! - I showed her the door.

Like you, I have a home with some £££ value in the house and was concerned about her making a stake in my home if we broke up. But I got it in time.

For gawd sake, make sure every bill is in your name and by direct debt (including the phone etc) - I would incline to go down the road of making everything cash as well.

M

blimey!.....cheers for this, now that is scheming!...

Errata

Give her a rent book and tell her she's a lodger. You clearly don't trust her.