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.