How can I get my husband out of our rental home during divorce?

Full question:

My husband, myself and our 2 year old, are renting a house for $1,400 a month + utilities. We have a 2 year lease, but have been here only one year. We are divorcing (uncontested) and my husband has been emotionally and verbally abusing me and our son for weeks. He no longer comes home till 9:00 at night. He stays out till the morning hours on weekends, and spends no time with the baby. We communicate by text messaging only when necessary. I am in therapy and on medicines. We cannot break the lease and my landlord cannot find another renter, so I am stuck. Neither one of us can afford this on our own. I need to leave here as soon as possible for my emotional sanity and my son's future emotional outlook. How can I get my husband out and have him pay his part of the rent so I can remain, or how can I break this lease?

  • Category: Divorce
  • Date:
  • State: National

Answer:

Generally, a spouse has the right to live in the marital home unless a restraining order is in place or a court grants exclusive possession to one spouse during divorce proceedings. If you separate, you can file a separation agreement with the court, outlining financial responsibilities. During divorce, you might request temporary financial support until the divorce is finalized.

You may be able to terminate your lease early if your landlord has failed to meet their obligations or if you reach an agreement with them. However, landlords usually expect some compensation for allowing an early lease termination.

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

During a divorce, marital assets and debts are typically divided between spouses. This includes income, savings, property, and debts incurred during the marriage. Each state has different laws regarding property division, often following equitable distribution principles, meaning assets are divided fairly but not necessarily equally. It's important to document all financial information and seek legal advice to understand your rights and obligations regarding finances during the divorce process.