My friend bought a home at a tax sale with her now ex-boyfriend. She paid for the house with her money and he paid for a new roof to be put on.

Since then they have parted ways (about four years now) and she has been taking care of everything not residing in the house with no financial help from him at all.

She is now wanting to sell the property and both of their names are on the house.

She asked for my advise on what she should try and work out with the ex financially. If both names are on the house it would be split in half but I think she should get back either all of half of the money for upkeep bills and taxes.

I know eventually it's going to be settled with a lawyer being involved but just looking for some advice.

She needs to document every dollar she has spent on the place since purchase. So does he.

She needs to document tax benefits she has taken, and so does he, if any.

Then figure out the percentage due each based on dollars invested vs. profit.

The first thought I had after reading was: will the "doctrine of laches" apply here.

Both need a yellow tablet, a pencil with an eraser & a calculator. Both need to sit down at home, alone, and figure out what debits and credits they each have. They need to figure out what the house can sell for.

Then, they need to sit down together (perhaps someone sits with them if they won't be able to be level headed) and see the others numbers.

They need to then recalculate their own numbers after seeing the other's unknowns. Hopefully, they are both in the vicinity of each other.

If they hire lawyers, any profit will basically disappear after lawyer fees, they will want an appraisal, etc.

They made a VERY poor business and financial decision. It is going to cost them plenty to get out of this deal unless they can absolutely work with each other.

With both names on the deed, both people will need to sign off on the sale. So out of fairness, it should be 50-50, but in things like this, things are not always fair.

Legal action is called partition lawsuit. Yes it can cost more than just settling it on their own but sometimes broken relationships require the lawyers and partition lawsuit since neither side is willing to give an inch.

He can do what my totally naive husband did in his divorce from the ex (shrew). Sign a quit claim deed

In his case, the stay-in-bed ex contributed virtually nothing to the house; he paid for everything. taxes, mortgage, insurance, did all the remodeling but she sold it and kept the entire proceeds.

Ray-N-Pa

She never mentioned any leins on the property and maybe she doesn't even know.

As far as mortgage there is none. I think she paid a few thousand at a tax sale for unpaid taxes.

Ray-N-Pa

She never mentioned any leins on the property and maybe she doesn't even know.

As far as mortgage there is none. I think she paid a few thousand at a tax sale for unpaid taxes.