Is my wife entilted to our houses

[hogaboom40]

I live in North Carolina where I purchased two houses during my marriage. Both houses were financed soley in my name. My wife is currently staying in one house, while I'm staying in the other. I have and still pay both mortgages. My wife has never made a mortgage payment or any upgrades or expenes that comes with owning a home. Is she still entilted to ownership or equity in the homes?

 

[FlyingRon]

Despite the fact you didn't include your wife's name in the deed, unless they were purchased with separate funds (i.e., something from before the marriage or an inheritance from your side of the family), the houses are part of the marital estate and will be subject to an "equitable distribution" along with everything else. There's some amount of negotiation that could trade off some of the other assets for the houses.

 

[Proserpina]

Despite the fact you didn't include your wife's name in the deed, unless they were purchased with separate funds (i.e., something from before the marriage or an inheritance from your side of the family), the houses are part of the marital estate and will be subject to an "equitable distribution" along with everything else. There's some amount of negotiation that could trade off some of the other assets for the houses.

OP didn't actually say that wifey isn't on the deed - just that HE financed/bought the properties.

 

[LdiJ]

I live in North Carolina where I purchased two houses during my marriage. Both houses were financed soley in my name. My wife is currently staying in one house, while I'm staying in the other. I have and still pay both mortgages. My wife has never made a mortgage payment or any upgrades or expenes that comes with owning a home. Is she still entilted to ownership or equity in the homes?

Of course she is. The houses were purchased during the marriage with marital income (I assume, if you purchased them using an inheritance or other income that might be considered to be separate income please explain). She is entitled to an equitable share of the equity in the homes.

 

[hogaboom40]

Ok**************thanks for the response. All of thses years, I should have atleast made her pay for some of the expenses. I guess that what I get for what I thought was the right thing by paying all of the bills myself. I learned my lesson.

 

[LdiJ]

Ok**************thanks for the response. All of thses years, I should have atleast made her pay for some of the expenses. I guess that what I get for what I thought was the right thing by paying all of the bills myself. I learned my lesson.

The thing is...that in a marriage there is no such thing as "my money" and "your money". Its all "our money" with some exceptions (inheritances, gifts etc) If you and your wife chose to keep your money separate (which is really weird to me) then you are equally entitled to a share of any assets she has accrued as well. Those assets would include any retirement accounts, any physical assets, any assets in the bank etc.

 

[Bali Hai]

Ok**************thanks for the response. All of thses years, I should have atleast made her pay for some of the expenses. I guess that what I get for what I thought was the right thing by paying all of the bills myself. I learned my lesson.

If you ever remarry, you haven't learned your lesson.