Legal Question in Real Estate Law in Maine

my husband had a house w/ his childs mother. the house is in both their names. They split 4 years ago and he never got his name off the house. We have been trying to get a house,but he has to get his name off that one first. We just recently found out that she has not been making the payments and the house is now in foreclosure. He has tried for months to try and get her to refinance or sell it, but she refuses to do either. My husband would like to try and if not get his name off the house maybe bring a law suit against her for not budging on doing anything and force maybe force her to sell now that it is in foreclosure. I just think that it is ridiculous if she is holding all this power and it lies in her hands whether anything gets done or not. His name is on the house to so can anything be done ?


Asked on 2/24/10, 9:08 am

1 Answer from Attorneys

Jerome Gamache Ainsworth Thelin & Raftice, P.A.

The issue is not that the house is in his name still, if that were the case the matter would remain between just him and his ex. They could legally partition the property, a Judge could Order a sale and he would be entitled to some portion of the proceeds.

The issue is that he signed a promisssory note and mortgage with a lender. The fact that he split with his ex and moved out does not affect the lender's rights to still hold him to the original note and mortgage, so even if she were willing to take him off the house, so to speak, it does not mean much unless the lender is willing to do that as well. In my experience, the lender is almost never willing to let a co-borrower out. The fact that she has not co-operated with a refinance or sale is not something he can now sue her for not agreeing to do in the past, but if there is equity in the house he could seek a Judicial partition and sale. Since the property is in foreclosure I doubt that would be adviseable.

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Answered on 3/01/10, 9:47 am


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