Would my future husband be entitled to half my house?

Panda78

I need advice on the best option to protect my finances, please.

If i buy a house in my own name, with my own money - would my future husband be entitled to any of it if we divorced?

If i bought a house after we married, but still with my own money and the repayments came out of my own bank account, would he then be entitled to any and would it make a difference if his name was on the deeds of not?

This may sound cold hearted but i have saved for 10 years to build a big deposit and my partner has no savings at all as his job does not pay that much, so he cannot contribute to the deposit. We have never had a joint bank account.

FBaby

They would most likely be entitled to a part of it if not 50% after fighting in court (unless you agree of course!). So yes, think twice before getting married. That's why my partner is getting cold feet I think. To be fair on him, his wife left it after he supported her, paid everything, then she cheated on him and went for 1/2 the house, so had to borrow from his mum to buy her out. It does leave its marks! I'm working on him though, maybe I'll make it clearer what I'm due to inherite from my parents, that might help!!!

By the way, should add that your partner could have a stake in the house if you leave long enough together and he can prove he contributed somehow, so that's not fail proof either...

hermanmunster_3

not sure about what he would be entitled to but I presumably you could have an agreement about protecting the deposit if you split up.

As for the repayments etc being out of your account only and you feeling that the house would be yours alone is a bit hard really - if you stopped work to have kids would you expect him to support you? - if you were ill would you rely on his pay? Will you pay him for doing any work on the house ? putting up a curtain rail? cutting the grass? Paying for it to be repainted?

After marriage it has to be a bit more of "all in one pot" I think

Seanymph

you need to take proper legal advice.

We have the same sort of issues - along with the emotional difficulties that brings forwards. I think legal advice is your best option.

foreign_correspondent

yes, he may be - but the same can apply if you cohabit - you need to take some good legal advice here - I would never marry or cohabit again without having some sort of agreement drawn up, to protect both sides.

FatVonD

You need to take proper legal advice but from my own experience...

I owned my house before marrying my first husband and he didn't contribute anything towards the mortgage (or pay for any improvements.) I stayed married to him far longer than I should have mainly due to the scaremongers that tell you you'll lose half your house and then I moved next door to a divorce lawyer who told me he'd not have a leg to stand on but you should still take legal advice anyway

HappyMJ

Panda78 wrote: »

I need advice on the best option to protect my finances, please.

If i buy a house in my own name, with my own money - would my future husband be entitled to any of it if we divorced?

If i bought a house after we married, but still with my own money and the repayments came out of my own bank account, would he then be entitled to any and would it make a difference if his name was on the deeds of not?

This may sound cold hearted but i have saved for 10 years to build a big deposit and my partner has no savings at all as his job does not pay that much, so he cannot contribute to the deposit. We have never had a joint bank account.

It is possible. An amicable divorce would put both parties back in the situation they were in before they got married plus half of anything that has accrued since then. So if the equity in your house has grown after you get married then you can fairly expect to share the growth in the equity. If there is a dispute.....well the solicitors get most of it.

Panda78

Thanks so much for your quick replies. Things would be simpler if i could buy a house before we marry. I think i can get a document signed where my deposit would be protected - that is my main concern and i doubt my partner would mind as he has not contributed to the deposit.

If i buy after we marry, Herman has raised some valid points about if i stopped work through childcare or illness. I guess after marriage, i have to accept that it is "our" home in a legal sense, but i would still want my deposit to be protected.

Mojisola

Are you getting married in church? If you can't say the vows and mean them -

"to have and to hold from this day forward; for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part"

"With my body I honour you, all that I am I give to you, and all that I have I share with you, within the love of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit"

perhaps it would be best just to live together.

Uniscots97

you could do what I did and get an agreement drawn up before you get married that way should anything happen its in black and white. The lawyer only charged me £75 to do it.

Mojisola

unixgirluk wrote: »

you could do what I did and get an agreement drawn up before you get married that way should anything happen its in black and white.

As far as I'm aware, these agreements don't have to be taken into account by the courts if there is a divorce.