Legal Question in Civil Litigation in New York

Breakup with girlfriend, without property, stole savings

I recently broke up with my girlfriend. We have been together for over 4 years. For the last 2 years I was making much less money then her and she ended up paying for most of our expenses (rent, living, vacations). She one night decided to kick me out. Since then she transferred all my money out of my savings account(about $8k)(she has about $60k in her savings account). Which she was able to do this because I was ignorant enough to add her name to the account.

She also refuses to let me have any of my stuff. Clothes, checkbooks, financial and other documents. Plus many of the big ticket items (bedroom set, tv, etc) were mine prior to our relationship.

I am trying to give her time to come to her senses, but she is talking about how I owe her this huge about of money for all the our expenses for the last 2 years since we moved to NY.

What is the law on previously paid joint expenses and her trying to collect for these 2 years, now that we are no longer together? On her cleaning out my savings? The items we obtained during the relationship, such as gifts from her to me, or items purchased based on cash gifts given to me by my parents? Is there something I should be doing?


Asked on 4/09/03, 5:49 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Michael Markowitz Michael A. Markowitz, PC

Re: Breakup with girlfriend, without property, stole savings

1. Savings account. A joint savings account does not give a person the right to take all money against the other individual's wishes. To partition the account, you must demonstrate to the court where the money came before the account was closed. This can easily be done through copies of deposit slips.

2. Your stuff. She can't keep it. You can seek an order to either direct her to return the stuff, or replacement damages.

3. Vacations, gifts. A gift (once given) is not revocable.

Mike.

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Answered on 4/10/03, 8:41 am


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