separate property or marital

[Chutne]

my husband of 18 years/deserted/ now says our marital residence of 17 yrs. is SEPARATE PROPERTY (VIRGINIA).....purchased 3 mts prior to marriage......he has certainly not maintained this residence as SEPARATE////is it futile to pursue the course of action that it was the MARITAL RESIDENCE or do i have to prove i lived here and contributed to the value of it?????

 

[usdeeper]

I do not know the exact legal answer.. but I am 99.9% sure that your hubby is wrong. He can not claim the house is his after you have contributed to it for 17 years !!..

Personally, I do not think you have to prove anything other than you have been married for 17 years and live there. Good luck.