Expert: Dick Dennis - 5/11/2006

Question
I BOUGHT MY HOUSE A LITTLE OVER A YEAR AGO, WITH MY FIANCE.  MY CREDIT WAS STRONGER THAN HIS SHO THE ENTIRE LOAN IS IN MY LOAN.  SHORTLY AFTER THE CLOSING, I ADDED HIM TO THE DEED, TO SHOW MY TRUST IN OUR RELATIONSHIP. I KNOW, HOW STUPID.  SO HE IS ON THE TITLE/DEED BUT HE IS NOT FINANCIALLY OBLIGATED.  OUR HOME OWNERSHIP TOGETHER WAS SHORT LIVED, ONLY ABOUT 3 WEEKS. I HAVE BEEN PAYING THE MORTGAGE ALONE FOR ABOUT 1 YEAR AND HE IS IN VEGAS.  I AM TRYING TO SELL BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN PROMOTED AND NEED TO RELOCATE.  HE WILL NOT SIGN ANYTHING IN ORDER FOR ME SELL, TELL ME THE TRUTH IS THERE SOMETHING I CAN DO, AM I SCREWED?  

Answer
You have no choice, Sekeyi but to consult a REAL ESTATE attorney and have your property PARTITIONED. That means you take the matter to court and have the judge legally partition the title away from your fiance and then sold with only you signing all necessary papers.

He thinks he has you over a financial barrel. But, he has some financial problems himself coming when you take him to court and he has to hire an attorney to defend the matter . . . unless he decides to give a quit-claim title back to you before that happens.

Here is another idea for you: Go online to legalzoom.com. They have ways of solving problems at much less cost.

I do wish you well.

Dick Dennis     dixiedee13@aol.com