If my girlfriend and I bought a house last year but have since broken up, do I have to pay her portion of the down payment back?
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If my girlfriend and I bought a house last year but have since broken up, do I have to pay her portion of the down payment back?
She used her savings 7K and I also put down $2500. Our names are on the loan and deed. I paid the mortgage and other bills, I moved out for 7 months and continued to pay the mortgage while she lived there and looked for a roommate. That never transpired and I have since moved back in with my new girlfriend. I agreed to pay her parents back 6 grand for fixing the well, which happened while I was not living in the house. I also agreed to give her $1700 from my taxes, she wants me to refinance the house to get her off the deed and then pay her $7000 for the down payment.
Asked on June 1, 2012 under Real Estate Law, Illinois
Answers:
FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 12 years ago | Contributor
Whether or not you have to pay your former girlfriend a portion of the down payment for the house that you bought depends upon what your agreement with it was to be.
The best way to resolve the situation concerning the house is to consult with a real estate attorney as how to resolve title and the loan pertaining to your former girlfriend's interest in the property. In essence, removing her ownership interest in the property and obligation under the loan for all intents and purposes is similar to a buy out of a partner in a business venture which the property you have written about essentially is.
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