Legal Advice on Housing Issues

Questioner

Dear legal aid office, About 10 years ago, my boyfriend verbally agreed with his ex-girlfriend that he could keep the house as long as he paid the costs. He has paid for everything over the years, even her life insurance. His ex's life insurance was supposed to be cancelled, but she never did. Now the house has finally been sold and only a small amount is available. Now his ex has changed her mind and wants half of the amount that is released after all. The mortgage is in her name and he has always used the house, but is there any possibility of recovering anything from her? Kind regards

Lawyer

Difficult because the agreements are verbal. There is a free evidence doctrine, so if there are witnesses who know about it or were even there, that can be used. Furthermore, they have separated, and it turns out that one pays more costs than the other in the division of the property. The law stipulates that this division must be used, if there is surplus value. The part of life insurance does pose a problem because that is paid directly to the ex if the house is sold or the insurance is released.