Legal Question in Family Law in Florida

My girlfriend of 8 years recently separated, I was ordered out of her house and not allowed to take anything with me. I own a home that has been rented for the most part for the last 6 years when we moved in to here home. We have no legal agreement on paper and I had been living with her, and her two sons, 24 and 27 along with a 3 year old grandson. None to which are blood related to me. I paid her 6-7 hundred per month along with buying groceries a few times per week for the entire household. It has been a month now and she won't allow me to get all of my personal items. In the past 6 years, I completely remodeled her kitchen, installed a new Air-conditioning system, Pressure cleaned and painted the entire house, 2 coats, installed a 12x24 shed with 150amp electrical service, 5 airs supply stations, lighting, and water supply. I would like to find out if I am entitled to any of the value of the home because I know with the additions I made, jumped the value of the house considerably and the majority of the things I did, I can't possibly take with me. I am a retired Facility Manager for the Department of Justice and hadn't really planned on retiring but she pushed me in to it. 6 months later I get the boot. If I do have any rights to the property, I would only like to see case law from somewhere to use as a scare tactic to only receive my personal items.

Thank you

Chuck McDonell


Asked on 7/30/10, 2:29 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Lucreita Becude Lucreita D. Becude, P.A.

I suggest you file a civil suit for the value of the items that you contributed to the house. The value will be above $5k and therefore small claims is not an option for you. In the suit request the return of your personal items. There is no other way you would be entitled to anything. Florida does not honor common law marriage in your case and you will only probably not get the full value of your contributions as you lived there and enjoyed the improvements as well. If you have receipts you are in luck for your suit.

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Answered on 8/05/10, 6:58 am


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