Legal Question in Family Law in California
Are there legal rights for unregistered domestic partners to have a portion of what they invested in their partners property returned to them after separating?
2 Answers from Attorneys
If you are an unregistered partner, the division of your property would not be subject to California family law codes. This matter would be a civil litigation issue. Please contact a civil litigation attorney to explore your legal rights.
Ms. Kock is right. You are not legally a "domestic partner" at all if not registered. You are just roommates. Whether or not you are entitled to reimbursement will depend on the same considerations as if you provided the money to a roommate. You will have to go over all the facts and circumstances of the situation to determine whether the "investment" formed a de facto partnership, or was a loan or other true investment, or under some other theory is reimbursable.