Q: My ex pulled a fast one on me had me sign a paper so when we divorce it says I don’t want anything to do with the home .

A: It's probably not worth the paper it's written on. Agreements to change your marital rights while you are married are called postnuptial agreements and they must be executed with certain formalities. There are disclosure requirements and they generally need to be reviewed by your attorney and notarized. You need to consult with a good family law attorney.

A: Without knowing what you signed, it's difficult to determine what is going on. As Mr. Taylor expressed, it is likely worthless unless you fail to properly assert your rights. An attorney will ensure you do not continue to sign such documents.

A: It sounds like you might have been misled into signing a document that waived your rights to the property. However, even if your ex and her father’s names are on the house, your contributions toward the mortgage and improvements over the years could give you a claim to part of the home. California is a community property state, which generally means assets acquired during the marriage are split 50/50, including real estate.

If you’ve been paying the mortgage and living there for 15 years, it’s important to gather proof of your financial contributions. This can include bank statements, receipts for home improvements, and any other documentation that shows your involvement in maintaining or increasing the value of the home.

You may want to challenge the validity of the document you signed if you were misled or pressured. It could be worth looking into whether that agreement was made under fair conditions. A court may consider factors like the timing and how you were informed about your rights at the time of signing.