Can I get spousal support ifI never married?
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Can I get spousal support ifI never married?
I have been living with the same man for over 10 years. We were never legally married, however, we did buy a house together about 3 years ago. He recently decided to leave. I wanted to know if it was worth my troubles to ask for spousal support now that he has left me with the total mortgage to pay on my own?
Asked on November 22, 2010 under Family Law, Texas
Answers:
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 14 years ago | Contributor
If you are not married, you cannot get spousal support. (Though note: if you had children together, the children are entitled to child support.) That's not to say you may not have other forms of recourse: for example, it might be possible to force him to pay his share of the mortgage, or, conversely, to acquire a larger share of the home (and therefore of its equity) if you are not paying the full mortgage and he has demonstrably abandoned his interest. Similarly, you may have some ownership interest in any other property, such as furniture, cars, a bank account, etc., jointly acquired by you. And if there was an agreement between the two of you that he would pay certain expenses, that agreement may be enforceable. In short, it would be worthwhile for you to consult with an attorney who can evaluate the specifics of your situation to see what you are entitled to; however, spousal support itself is probably not something you can get.
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