I live in Missouri, and own my house alone. If I get married does my new spouse have rights to the house if things don’t work out
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I live in Missouri, and own my house alone. If I get married does my new spouse have rights to the house if things don’t work out
Asked on June 18, 2009 under Real Estate Law, Missouri
Answers:
N. K., Member, Iowa and Illinois Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 15 years ago | Contributor
Generally, your home is considered separate from marital property since you acquired it before your marriage.
But if your new spouse contributes his labor, money, etc. to the house, then he may be entitled to his contributions made to the house.
If you want to protect your house in case the marriage doesn't work out, find an attorney to draft an agreement to be signed by you and your soon-to-be-spouse agreeing that your home is your separate property and is to be excluded from ever being marital property.
Do this before you get married.
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