Can my husband force me to sell the house?


Sharing is Caring


And the short answer is, “Yes.” The court can force you to sell your home because they have the authority to transfer property from one spouse to another or to order property sold pursuant to a dissolution of marriage.

Is it better to divorce before or after selling the house?

Selling Your House Before Divorce Many times, couples will wait until the divorce is finalized to sell the house, but it is not necessary to do it that way. If both parties can find substitute housing and can agree to sell the home, then there is no better time than the present.

What happens if your ex refuses to sell your house?

If an ex-spouse is refusing to comply completely, then your attorney may file a motion for contempt. This motion will tell the court that your ex-spouse was ordered to sell the house, but is willfully failing to do so.

Can I sell my house if my wife doesn’t want to?

You can only sell if you get permission from the other co-owner(s). If all the co-owners agree that you should sell a property, and when you should sell it, then there’s no problem. Unfortunately this doesn’t always happen.

Can a court make you sell your house?

If the property owner wishes to sell it, they would have to obtain the consent of their spouse or civil partner. If that consent is unreasonably withheld then a court would have to dispense with his/her consent.

How is 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 a court order to force the sale of a house work?

Essentially, this provides a court order that requires specific and justified evidence as to why the offending party won’t agree the sale. If no argument is provided to counter the claim to sell, then the Order for Sale legally forces the second party to agree the sale.

Can I be forced to sell a jointly owned house?

In cases of joint ownership or tenancy, neither can remove the other unless an exclusion order is obtained from the court. If one spouse or civil partner wishes to sell the family home and the other does not, then an application will need to be made to court.

How do I force my ex to sell the house?

You cannot force a sale, but you can try to come to an agreement with them, by either buying them out or selling them your part of the property. If you’re currently dealing with a divorce, dealing with your shared belongings can become hard work very quickly.

How long does it take to force the sale of a house?

How long does it take to force the sale of a house? A. Applying for an order of sale can take several months and if there are complications or the courts are particularly busy when you submit your application, it could take a lot longer. It’s not uncommon for the entire process to take as long as 18 months.

Can my husband put our house on the market without my permission?

You can only sell the house without consent from your spouse (this includes civil partnerships) if they are not joint owners. If you are the only person named on the official copies or title deeds for the property then you are the sole owner and you would not fall into this category.

Can I force my ex to buy me out of the house?

However, you can’t force a sale. You will have to sever your joint tenancy first and register as tenants in common. Be careful not to sever the joint tenancy before you mutually agree with your partner how much you both own in the property. Getting this wrong can lead to lengthy and cost disputes over who owns what.

Do both parties have to agree to sell a house?

Typically, if one person wants to sell the property then both parties need to agree in order for the sale to go ahead without having to involve the Courts. Read on to discover your legal rights and how to handle a joint ownership property if you, or your joint partner, want to sell.

How do I buy my wife out of the house?

In most cases, a buyout goes hand in hand with a refinancing of the mortgage loan on the house. Usually, the buying spouse applies for a new mortgage loan in that spouse’s name alone. The buying spouse takes out a big enough loan to pay off the previous loan and pay the selling spouse what’s owed for the buyout.

What happens if spouse doesn’t want to sell house?

If one spouse refuses to sell the home, the other can head to court and file a motion (legal paperwork) asking a judge to order that the house be listed for sale immediately.

How can I keep the 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.

How do you sell a house while separated?

First, one person can buy the other’s share outright. Second, sell the property as quickly as possible and share the profit. Third, keep the property and legally change the owner. Fourth, transfer all or part of the property to one partner in the context of an overall financial settlement.

What is a property adjustment order in divorce?

Property Adjustment Orders are court orders that determine what happens to the family home when you divorce or separate if you haven’t been able to agree between you what to do.

How is home equity calculated in a divorce?

In order to determine the amount of equity โ€“ or ownership โ€“ you have in your home, you must: value the house. subtract the outstanding mortgage balance, and. calculate your share of the remaining equity.

Can’t afford to buy out partner?

If you can’t afford to buy out your partner, there are a few alternative options to consider: The most common is to sell your property. Once the property has sold, you can pay off your mortgage and split the equity with your partner.

Is my ex entitled to half the equity?

If both of the spouses worked during the marriage and contributed equal amounts to the mortgage that they acquired after marriage, a 50/50 split is usually reasonable. However, issues can arise if one spouse put separate property toward the purchase of the home or there were unequal contributions toward the mortgage.

What does an order for sale mean?

An Order for sale is a way to enforce a Charging Order. It is an order granting the chargeholder the right to take possession of the property and then to sell it in order to recover the monies secured by their charge.

What does having conduct of a sale mean?

If a house is to be sold, and it is held in joint names, generally speaking both parties will have joint conduct of the sale. This means the selling agents and conveyancing solicitors must follow the instructions of the husband and the wife. Both parties must be kept informed and they have equal decision making power.

Do you own a house if your name is on the deeds?

You own your home โ€“ either all or part of it โ€“ if your name is on a legal document called the title deeds. It might be owned: by one of you โ€“ which means it’s in one of your names. jointly, by both of you โ€“ there are different forms of joint ownership.

What is a forced sale of property?

A forced sale is an involuntary transaction in which the sale is based upon legal and not economic factors, such as a decree, execution, or something different than mere inability to maintain the property. If the sale is made for purely economic reasons, it is considered voluntary.

Craving More Content?

Maine Divorce Law Blog