Q: I am in the process of getting separated and want to purchase a house after separation.
If I purchase a house after a legal separation in Maine, does my spouse have claim to it if it is in my name and I'm paying the mortgage. I am buying the house for her and my children to live in, as I am active duty military and she refuses to leave the state. I am doing this mostly to provide shelter for my children, but she will have physical custody of them, though we will have joint custody. Will she have a claim to the house just because she's living in it, or will the house remain mine because it is in my name and I will be paying the mortgage?
A: Under Maine law, the general rule is all property acquired by either spouse after the marriage and before a decree of legal separation is considered to be marital property regardless of whether title is held individually. Accordingly, one key question will be did you obtain a decree of legal separation before you purchased (or will purchase) the house?
Justia Ask a Lawyer is a forum for consumers to get answers to basic legal questions. Any information sent through Justia Ask a Lawyer is not secure and is done so on a non-confidential basis only.
The use of this website to ask questions or receive answers does not create an attorney–client relationship between you and Justia, or between you and any attorney who receives your information or responds to your questions, nor is it intended to create such a relationship. Additionally, no responses on this forum constitute legal advice, which must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case. You should not act upon information provided in Justia Ask a Lawyer without seeking professional counsel from an attorney admitted or authorized to practice in your jurisdiction. Justia assumes no responsibility to any person who relies on information contained on or received through this site and disclaims all liability in respect to such information.
Justia cannot guarantee that the information on this website (including any legal information provided by an attorney through this service) is accurate, complete, or up-to-date. While we intend to make every attempt to keep the information on this site current, the owners of and contributors to this site make no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to from this site.
