Legal Question in Family Law in New Jersey
money entitlement
From May 2000-July 2005 I lied with my boyfriend in a home he purchased for us since we were getting married we never did. I did not contribute any cash to the purchase of the home, but I did pay toward the mortgage and other bills. I willingly handed over my paycheck, but he let the house go into foreclosure and was forced to sell it at a less than fair price. He had control of the apx $80,000 ''profit'', but he had so many debts that we only were left with about $38,000. He controlled the money over the summer while we lived in hotels and had a great time. I repeatedly asked for money to get my license back, but I never got it and when we found an apartment in December, he left me without a dime. I know we both spent money over the summer but I feel that I should be entitled to some cash so I can get on with my life. I'm currently an intern at a travel agency and I won't be getting paid until next week. He's been giving me about $100 a week since I started the internship but I feel that since I invested at least $30,000 to the mortgage etc. that I should be entitled to some more cash so I can get my license. Do I have any legal rights? At one point in the summer when I tried to leave him he was going to give me $15,000.
2 Answers from Attorneys
Re: money entitlement
You might possibly have a claim, based either on an agreement between you and him, or on simply seeking return of money lent to him, or perhaps because that is what is fair and equitable. you need to hir and consult with an attorney who handles divorce (your problem falls into that type of category).
If you would like, give me a call to set up an appointment; I am in northern New Jersey. My contact information can be obtained from the links below, just click on the Attorney Profile link. Let my secretary know you found me through LawGuru.
Disclaimer: you can not rely on the advice of an attorney given over the internet. The exact facts of your situation, including facts which you have not mentioned in your question, may completely change the result for your situation.
Re: money entitlement
It looks to me like you had a joint enterprise of wasting the money together. You say he had "control" of the money, but it seems like he was spending it with your consent, while you "lived in hotels and had a great time". And once the money was spent, apparently, he left you, but now still continues to give you $100 per week.
Do yourself a favor: Figure out how much the two of you spent on yourselves from the time you started living together (May of 2000) until now. Does it total more than $60,000? You estimate that you paid in $30,000. If the two of you spent more, it seems that you got more than your money's worth. My guess is that the two of you spent more on yourselves than $60,000.
Keep in mind that this advice is based purely on the little bit of information that you have given to me. There certainly may be other factors that would change my opinion. Further, no one can rely on advice from an attorney who has not been retained. Since it appears that you have not retained an attorney, you may want to contact an attorney (either me or someone else) to discuss your matter in more detail. Only then will you be able to rely on the advice. Good luck! Rob Gleaner
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