Legal Question in Real Estate Law in Massachusetts

Never Divorced but seperated 12 yrs agao

My girlfriends mother is in a predicament. 12 yrs ago her father left them for another woman. but they never legaly seperated or divorced. Now he wants her to give hime close to $200,000 so he can move away.Her mother doesn't have that kind of money and she's is thinking about selling part of her land for him. I don't know too much about legal documents as far as deed goes and so on I assume he's on the deed because they bought the property together. My question is what rights would he have to the property? I don't think he has contributed to the property financially since he left. Her mother has pretty much paid all the bills and whatnot since he left. I don't want her to get taken advantage of. He told her they didn't need to get lawyers because neither of them had the money for it. I think he's trying to pull a fast one on her. Is there any way that he had relinquished his rights by leaving, and if not can he be limited to equity. The value of the property has skyrocketed and it probably wan't worth as much 12 yrs ago. is it a simple cut and dry issue or is there a whole lot more to it. I want to present her with something becasue he is supposed to meet with her next week and push this process.


Asked on 11/21/05, 11:33 am

1 Answer from Attorneys
James Hall Qua, Hall, Harvey & Walsh

Re: Never Divorced but seperated 12 yrs agao

This is not a simple issue; your relative needs to retain counsel to litigate or negotiate this issue for her. The answer to your question depends on many facts, I would be happy to speak on the phone with her to answer some of her questions.

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Answered on 11/21/05, 12:43 pm


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