Can I sue my ex wife for not paying the mortgage?


Sharing is Caring


If your ex-wife was assigned the home, she should also be responsible for the payment of the mortgage. If the decree states that she is responsible for the mortgage, then your recourse is to bring a contempt action against her and have the judge order payment.

What happens if I stop paying my mortgage during a divorce?

If your spouse stops mortgage payments, you could potentially lose the house. If the bank stops getting its mortgage payments on time, you could face eviction and foreclosure.

Do I have to keep paying mortgage if divorced?

When a divorce occurs, regardless of what the divorce decree says, both spouses remain legally responsible for paying the creditor if both names are on the loan. That means even if you — and the court — agree that your ex should take over mortgage payments, the creditor could come after you to collect.

Can you assume a mortgage in a divorce?

There are several ways to retain your home and free your ex-spouse from the existing mortgage. One of the most popular ways is loan assumption. Loan assumption is when you take over full responsibility of the mortgage loan. This removes your spouse’s name from the loan, leaving you as the sole remaining borrower.

Can my ex force me to pay half the mortgage?

Your ex can’t be compelled to continue paying their half of the mortgage when they’re not named on the mortgage agreement. But that doesn’t mean you don’t have options. You should contact your lender ASAP and let them know that your circumstances have changed.

Is my ex liable for half the mortgage?

Is my ex-partner still required to pay the mortgage? You and your partner are equally liable for the mortgage. This is true even if the loan was based on one party’s income or if one of you moves out of the property. Your lender has the right to pursue both parties either jointly or individually for payments.

How can I get my ex off my mortgage without refinancing?

You usually do this by filing a quitclaim deed, in which your ex-spouse gives up all rights to the property. Your ex should sign the quitclaim deed in front of a notary. One this document is notarized, you file it with the county. This publicly removes the former partner’s name from the property deed and the mortgage.

Who pays mortgage in a divorce?

In other words, your mortgage is almost certainly a joint debt that your divorcing spouse also remains responsible for until your divorce is finalized and the loan is transferred to one or the other of you (usually via a buyout) or sold.

Can my wife force me to sell the house?

Answer. Yes, there is nothing to prevent a former spouse in these circumstances from issuing court proceedings to force a sale of the property and seek a share of the proceeds of sale.

What happens if I dont refinance after divorce?

However, waiting to refinance after divorce comes with many risks, Huettner warns. Interest rates could increase, home values could decrease, and as long as both spouses remain on the loan, late or missed payments will impact both spouses.

What should you not do during separation?

  • Keep it private. The second you announce you’re getting a divorce, everyone will have an opinion.
  • Don’t leave the house.
  • Don’t pay more than your share.
  • Don’t jump into a rebound relationship.
  • Don’t put off the inevitable.

What are my rights if I leave the marital home?

When the individual leaves the marital home, he or she will expect a right to privacy. The same is true of the spouse that remains in the marital home. Once the individual leaves, he or she may not have a legal right to access the property if there was no upkeep or monetary payments provided for mortgage or rent.

How much does it cost to assume a mortgage?

On an assumption, the funding fee is 0.5% of the existing mortgage balance and is paid by the new home buyer at closing.

How do I get my name off a mortgage with my ex?

The Solution: Release or Refinance This protects the ex-spouse (and his or her credit) from responsibility if the former spouse does not make payments on time or if the mortgage is foreclosed. There are two ways to remove an ex-spouse from a loan: Release and refinance. A lender may release the ex-spouse from the loan.

How do you not lose your house in a divorce?

In many cases, the simplest way to keep the house in a divorce if it still has a mortgage is to refinance. The best-case scenario is for you to refinance and remove the mortgage from your ex’s name altogether. You’ll need to qualify for the mortgage on your own, so make sure to have all your financial ducks in a row.

Can you take someone’s name off a mortgage?

Legally remove ex name from mortgage without refinancing If you need to remove your ex’s name from a mortgage without refinancing, you could request a quitclaim deed (a legal document that allows you to transfer interest in real estate as a grantor to a grantee).

Can a joint mortgage be transferred to one person?

Yes, that’s absolutely possible. If you’re going through a separation or a divorce and share a mortgage, this guide will help you understand your options when it comes to transferring the mortgage to one person. A joint mortgage can be transferred to one name if both people named on the joint mortgage agree.

What happens to a joint mortgage when you split up?

Having a joint mortgage with your partner means that each person owns an equal share of the property. If you split up or divorce, you both have the right to keep living there, however it also means you’re both equally responsible for the mortgage repayments, even after separation.

Can I force my ex to sell the house?

If you and your ex own a home that is in both of your names, they cannot legally force you to sell the house. All of your monies, such as business interests, savings and capital are regarded as matrimonial assets and will often be split 50:50. Your ex can try to force you out of the home, but they cannot legally.

Do I have to pay half the mortgage if I move out?

Nothing happens to your mortgage when you divorce or separate. It doesn’t change. All parties on a joint mortgage are jointly and severally liable for making sure the full capital and interest payments are made every month, irrespective of who lives in the property or any personal agreements between borrowers.

How is a house buyout calculated in a divorce?

To determine how much you must pay to buy out the house, add your ex’s equity to the amount you still owe on your mortgage. Using the same example, you’d need to pay $300,000 ($200,000 remaining mortgage balance + $100,000 ex-spouse equity) to buy out your ex’s equity and take ownership of the house.

How does home equity work in a divorce?

If you’re awarded the home in a divorce, you may have to “buy out” your spouse’s portion of the equity. If you don’t have the cash to cover the buyout, you may consider tapping extra equity above the balance of your current mortgage, commonly known as a cash-out refinance.

Who has to leave the house in a separation?

The spouse whose name isn’t on the title deed is often the one who needs to leave the house in a divorce, which is a prevalent fallacy that can lead to unjust deals. Because both spouses have the right to remain in the house throughout the separation, neither can change the locks without informing the other.

Is my wife entitled to half my house if it’s in my name?

It depends on who is named on the mortgage. This is called joint and several liability. You are both responsible and liable for paying the mortgage. That doesn’t mean you are both liable for half each though โ€“ if one person doesn’t pay their share, the other can still be held responsible for the whole mortgage.

How is debt split in a divorce?

California is a “community property” state, which means that any assets acquired and any debts incurred by either spouse during the marriage belong equally to both spouses.

Craving More Content?

Maine Divorce Law Blog