Expert: Charles W. Field - 7/23/2007

Question
I live in New York
I gave a great deal of $ to a fiancé ostensibly to pay for wedding expenses,  the ceremony etc
She spent it on household furnishings and has the receipts
Sometimes he used her credit card and the receets r in her name
she turned out to b a con artiste and gold digger and the wedding fell thru
She never lived in my house
Might have to let her in though for a short while
At what point can she claim tenancy?
And will she b allowed to take the stuff or the things she paid for with my money but with her credit or debit card?
Does it hinge on whose name the receipts are in?
What if there r no receipts?
On whom does the burden of proof fall>?
In the eye’s of the law the courts and the police?
Want to make sure she can’t take anything if she shows up
and isn’t let into the apt
Or if she is allowed ion for a short time
Or if she lives there for less than 30 days
Or for more than 30 days
Or is allowed to live unofficially in my section 8 apt
Or official on the lease
The above could occur  either before a civil marriage or after


Answer
All of your questions are state-specific. Since I only practice in GA, I probably can't be of much help. In GA, e.g., as soon as you let her move into the house you have created a landlord/tenant relationship. What the law is in NY, I have no idea. You might post your questions at www.lawguru.com where they will be directed to NY attorneys who have stated familiarity with these areas of the law.