Does a spouse have a right to reimbursement forthe improvementreal property?
Get Legal Help Today
Compare Quotes From Top Companies and Save
Secured with SHA-256 Encryption
Does a spouse have a right to reimbursement forthe improvementreal property?
I had only been married a year and we bought a duplex together. The agreement was he would pay the down payment and I would remodel and buy the materials. He then wanted a divorce. Even though I paid half of everything while I was remodeling. He also gets the money on the other apartment. I want him to pay me back for my labor and materials since everything I invested in is all his.
Asked on March 20, 2011 under Family Law, Utah
Answers:
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 13 years ago | Contributor
There is no hard and fast answer. In a divorce, the couple's total assets and obligations will be divided amongst them, subject however to (1) any prenuptual or other agreements between them; and (2) any previously owned assets or property which a spouse brought with him or her (which remain that spouse's property). In addition, the court will take cognizance of relative incomes and contributions to various expenses in both property distribution and in setting any spousal support (e.g. alimony).
Furthermore, anything owned jointly--for example, real estate owned by both spouses--will be divided pretty much 50-50 between them. So if you both own the duplex, you would normally get half the equity, but subject to modification by the exact terms of any enforceable agreement between you and also possibly by your relative contributions to it.
So the short answer is, you very likely have some rights to or interest in the property, but the exact amount is dependent on the circumstances. You should immediately retain and start consulting with a family or matrimonial law attorney, who can evaluate the facts of the case and any agreements and advise you both of your rights to reimbursement or compensation or support as well as advise you, going forward, what to do to maximize what you would receive in a divorce. There is alot at stake and no reason to not get a lawyer helping you.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: The Answer(s) provided above are for general information only. The attorney providing the answer was not serving as the attorney for the person submitting the question or in any attorney-client relationship with such person. Laws may vary from state to state, and sometimes change. Tiny variations in the facts, or a fact not set forth in a question, often can change a legal outcome or an attorney's conclusion. Although AttorneyPages.com has verified the attorney was admitted to practice law in at least one jurisdiction, he or she may not be authorized to practice law in the jurisdiction referred to in the question, nor is he or she necessarily experienced in the area of the law involved. Unlike the information in the Answer(s) above, upon which you should NOT rely, for personal advice you can rely upon we suggest you retain an attorney to represent you.