Hickory, NC asked in Divorce for North Carolina

Q: I received my home in a previous marriage settlement. I am the sole name on the deed. Do I have to split proceeds 50/50?

I remarried in 2011 and have solely supported household for 5 years with present husband refusing to work. He claims he’s entitled to half of sale of the home. It’s this true? I want to separate and divorce.

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1 Lawyer Answer
Amanda Bowden Johnson
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Answered

A: Of course not. Based on your description, he may have some extremely minor marital interest but likely nothing of significance - so essentially, he likely has zero leverage against you. The best way to handle this is to sit down and be fair with each other and resolve all your marital issues with a simple formal written separation and property settlement agreement. This can be done for a flat rate fee of $250 for most average couples and a year later the divorce can be completed for a flat rate fee of $395. If he refuses to be reasonable, the alternative is to pay often thousands to hire stranges and have them make decisions for you that you and your spouse likely could have made yourselves for free or at very low cost. Of course, if he won't be reasonable with you, you may not have much choice other than to go that route and file a divorce from bed and board now to have him put out of the house (assuming he won't leave voluntarily) to start the separation period. Consult with a local family law attorney who can review your specific situation and lay out your options.

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