Will my new wife automatically be entitled to half my house?

johncollier

I am about to get remarried. I already own a house outright. My previous wife still has her name on the deeds as I haven't had the cash to pay her out yet. She's happy with that. However, will my new wife automatically be entitled to half the house?

If so, this complicates things. Up to now my previous wife has been happy in the knowledge that she is entitled to half the value of the house. If my new wife is automatically entitled to half then my previous wife gets less. She won't be happy and will most likely start demanding money from me now.

Please advise.

[Deleted User]

A half of a half is a quarter....

Gavin83

Depends on a number of factors as to how much of the property she would be entitled to should you split.

However you only own half the house. Therefore your ex wife will always own the other half (unless you buy her out) and therefore any calculations will be based on your half only.

neilD

Its is possible to change the ownership such that the house is not in joint names but held 50-50. Then you ex-wife would be entitled to here 50%.
My parents have done it - they needed a solicitor to do the legal stuff.

TrickyWicky

johncollier wrote: »

If my new wife is automatically entitled to half then my previous wife gets less. She won't be happy

I'd be surprised if your new wife is happy with your attitude either.

You clearly think that you can sacrifice your ex wifes half of the house in order to keep your new wife sweet so that you can still keep your majority share. Grow up mate, you can't give away someone elses property or share in it to somebody else so the only thing your new wife will get half of is YOUR half of the house.

Your ex wife still gets the complete 50% despite your wishes to cheat her out of it somehow.

While we're here though, do you mind if i sell your car and keep 75%?

Orlando_Virgin

This post should be re-written as "how can I keep my cake and eat it?"

Buzzybee90

Surely it would be 1/4 for you and new wife and 1/2 for ex wife?

RAS

Starting point - England, Wales or Scotland as the law is different?

Next one - do you have a joint tenancy with the ex or is it tenants in common (assuming England or Wales)?

Do you realise that if it is a joint tenancy and you die, the survivor becomes the sole tenant?

duchy

It isn't "Your" house.
It is owned 50 50 with your ex wife.
At any time she could force you to sell to realize her 50% through the courts if she was so minded.
If wifey number two was so annoyed with you for not sorting the legalities out and leaving her homeless that she divorced you - she could then claim half of your fifty percent - leaving you with 25% of the equity.

Best thing you could do is buy your ex out -or sell up and split the equity with your ex wife and start over with a new joint purchase with wife number 2.

maman

What you haven't told us is anything of new wife's circumstances. I don't think she can walk in and automatically have a claim on your house from day 1. It would depend on the length of the marriage and what she's contributed.


Does she have her own home? Are any children involved? Why don't you raise a mortgage and buy your ex wife out?

johncollier

maman wrote: »

What you haven't told us is anything of new wife's circumstances. I don't think she can walk in and automatically have a claim on your house from day 1. It would depend on the length of the marriage and what she's contributed.


Does she have her own home? Are any children involved? Why don't you raise a mortgage and buy your ex wife out?

She has nothing basically and that is the point of my question in the first place. My first wife is not the problem. It's the new wife as she's coming into this relationship with nothing but her clothes. Should this not work out, let's say after 12 months, is she gonna leave me with nothing?