Dear Jed 31,
The laws on real estate vary from state to state. Title insurance companies control some of the transactions, even without the force of law. Basically it is difficult to sell a house without your signature, even if your name, as the wife, is not on the deed.
Dean 790 is correct that in most states, even if the wife's name is not on the deed to the family home, the wife will still be liable for any default in payments, and any forclosure will be on teh wife's credit report as well.
My wife and I squabble about who is going to pay what share of the mortgage almost every month. Most of the time we keep disagreeing until the last day before Federal Express can get our two checks there.
We also squabble about who will be able to use which part of the house with which furniture. I have bought some folding tables and stacking chairs, so I can spread out and do taxes, pay bills, work on projects, but my wife continues to try to keep the house as out of House Beautiful Magazine, at all times. Tonight I was criticized for leaving a folding table up in the basement, where I was working on the air conditioner(got it working, 90 Degrees outside), and paid 6 bills, before going to work.
My wife has not paid much of the house payments in the past few years, but now that she is pushing for a bigger share of the house, I am pushing for a bigger share of her paycheck for the house payment.
My wife decided that she wanted me to move my stuff out of the basement so she could re-decorate. So I did, and rented a storage space. Well she hit the roof, because she was thinking I was going to throw my stuff away, rather than jack up the family budget. My idea is that she has the living room and kitchen and dining area the way she wants it, so I should have the bassement. I have been allowed to use the utility room.
If you figure out a solution to the conflict, please post it for the rest of us.
Best wishes,
Quipper,
Married 28 Years, and Still Struggling.
