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When can you change the locks?

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carla123

Guest
I'm sure the ball is in my husbands court, but I just wanted to check. I moved out two weeks ago under what I thought were amicable terms. I'm at my parents temporarily and my husband agreed I could leave all of my things in the house until I could find a permanent place. When I picked my daugther up this evening I noticed he had changed the locks. Can he do that while my things are still in there?
 


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AMomInNC

Guest
As I understand it (at least in NC), as soon as you vacate the house it's his to do with as he wishes.

You could get a police officer or sheriff's deputy to accompany you to the house to pick up your things if you fear for your safety going alone.

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~God gave me three angels!~
 
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carla123

Guest
Thanks NC Mom. Is it a coincidence that I'm in NC or did you see it on my profile? Anyway, I had the same thoughts as you. I guess this won't be as civil as I thought. The bad part is, even though I still had my key to the original lock, I wouldn't even have considered going in without him there. This has really put me on the defensive.

Thanks for your post!

 
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AMomInNC

Guest
Carla, I didn't know you were in NC. :)

When I left my first husband, after several years of physical & mental abuse, I left with just the clothes on my back and my son's diaper bag. I was told by the police that the only way I could get my things was to go in when he wasn't home and as they said, I could "Back a U-Haul up and take everything in the house" as long as there wasn't a seperation agreement signed with distribution of property outlined. I didn't do this, but I did take 4 sheriff's deputies with me to get my things. (When I left, he basically chased me from the house with a shotgun - nice huh?)

As I understand it, your things are still YOUR things until you get a distribution of property, so you can get them, you should have an officer accompany you though, just to be safe!

Email me if you want: [email protected].

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~God gave me three angels!~
 

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