Common law marriage/possetions distribution

[twistwood]

What is the name of your state? Utah

I have a girlfriend that I've lived with off and on for about 8 years. We have only lived together for the last year and a half this time around. I think that she is attempting to establish a common law marriage in order to take half of what I own. I was given a home which we have lived in together off and on for the last 4 years. She tells me that her attorney says that she can get up to 70,000 plus most of the possetions as well as possibly get alimony. We have never filed a joint tax return nor has she taken my last name and we have never represented ourselves as husband and wife. Amendment 3 states that Utah will not recognize any domestic partnership as a marriage. What can she really get? I have 2 attorneys stating that she will not be able to get the house. Her name isn't on the house. I mortgaged the home in order to purchase two more and her name isn't on any of the documents. What can I do to prevent her from getting anything?

[LdiJ]

Originally Posted by twistwood

What is the name of your state? Utah

I have a girlfriend that I've lived with off and on for about 8 years. We have only lived together for the last year and a half this time around. I think that she is attempting to establish a common law marriage in order to take half of what I own. I was given a home which we have lived in together off and on for the last 4 years. She tells me that her attorney says that she can get up to 70,000 plus most of the possetions as well as possibly get alimony. We have never filed a joint tax return nor has she taken my last name and we have never represented ourselves as husband and wife. Amendment 3 states that Utah will not recognize any domestic partnership as a marriage. What can she really get? I have 2 attorneys stating that she will not be able to get the house. Her name isn't on the house. I mortgaged the home in order to purchase two more and her name isn't on any of the documents. What can I do to prevent her from getting anything?

If two attorneys have told you that she isn't entitled to anything, then why are you continuing to listen to her?

[twistwood]

I am just trying to see if there may be something that I should be doing to protect my assets just in case. I know that justice doesn't necessarily happen the way it should here in Utah. Courts typically side with a mother in cases like this. We have a daughter.

[LdiJ]

Originally Posted by twistwood

I am just trying to see if there may be something that I should be doing to protect my assets just in case. I know that justice doesn't necessarily happen the way it should here in Utah. Courts typically side with a mother in cases like this. We have a daughter.

Then you are going to be paying child support for your daughter (assuming that mom gets custody). However, you need to be listening to local attorneys regarding anything else.

[twistwood]

Right, I was hoping a local attorney would see my post.