Legal Question in Real Estate Law in Maryland

I need a consultation to determine my rights to a home that I own and have lived in for 17 years. I bought the home with another person who never contributed financially and abandoned me and the home over 16 years ago. I searched endlessly for her with no avail. Yesterday I received notice that she filed a chapter 7 bankruptcy and surrendered the house in the bankruptcy. After talking to the trustee, I learned he wants to sell my house to pay her debt and give her a $10,000 wild card exemption. The home is in Maryland and she filed in Pa. After looking at the bankruptcy rules, it looks to me like the trustee has to meet certain criteria and petition the court for permission to sell the home. I dont think that he can meet all of the criteria because I believe that it will cause irreparable harm to me for several reasons including that I am now disabled with Ms and can not work. In addition, I need a consult to discuss how the court will look at our interests in the home. It looks to me that Maryland definitely recognizes the right to contribution from co-tenants and reimbursement for repairs to the home. However, I am not sure whether they will try to offset these amounts with some sort of rent credit to her because I have lived in the home. Please help.


Asked on 8/24/10, 5:48 am

1 Answer from Attorneys
Phillip M. Cook Cook Legal Services, LLC

I STRONGLY recommend that you hire a bankruptcy attorney IMMEDIATELY. You must formally assert your rights to the bankruptcy court, or you risk the chance of being left out of your home.

Best of luck.******The above is for informational purposes only and does not create an attorney-client privilege.*******

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Answered on 8/29/10, 5:56 am


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