Is there a way to remove my my husband from the deed if he is in arrears on child payment?

Full question:

I bought a house with a boyfriend-we were never married-we have two children in common -I have an order of protection against him- The question is he owes approx. $15,000.00 in child support I live in the house with the children. I want to ask the support court if we can do a security undertaking by attaching a lien to the house. If after the three years of the security undertaking is up and he is still in arrears rather than me having to go to court to remove him from the deed can the house be linked as payment of the support? and his name be ordered to be removed from the deed? His child support already outweighs his portion of the equity in the house. I have been there for three years with the children and he hasn't lived there nor has he paid for any mortgage, maintenance, etc. What can I do without costing me even more money?

  • Category: Divorce
  • Subcategory: Child Support
  • Date:
  • State: New York

Answer:

You must first go to the divorce court and have any support arrearage or back support reduced to a judgment. Only then can you have a lien put on his interest in the house. You must also be sure that your ex owns the house or has an interest in the house as a tenant in common. If someone other than your ex has an interest in the house or the house is owned as a joint tenancy, the lien may not attach to the house. The Iowa Supreme Court recently ruled that a lien could not attach on a house owned as joint tenancy in the names of an ex-husband and his second wife. For the lien to be enforceable, it had to have attached while only the ex-husband owned the house, because the ex-wife had no judgment against the second wife for child support.

Please see the information and forms at the following links:

http://lawdigest.uslegal.com/family-laws/child-support-and-custody-overview/

http://lawdigest.uslegal.com/family-laws/unmarried-parents/

This content is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Legal statutes mentioned reflect the law at the time the content was written and may no longer be current. Always verify the latest version of the law before relying on it.

FAQs

Yes, you can put a lien on your ex's property for unpaid child support, but first, you need to obtain a judgment for the arrears in court. The lien can only attach if your ex has an ownership interest in the property, such as being a tenant in common. If the property is held in joint tenancy, the lien may not attach unless the other owner is also liable for the support. Always consult with a legal professional for specific guidance.