Can I legally change the locks on my house if my partner is cheating and running up debts & I dont want him in

Question

Both married with name on the deeds. He has been cheating and admitted being an addicted gambler.

Answer 1

No I tried it and guess where I am now in a prison sell trying to talk to my daughter on MSN but they have blocked chatrooms

Answer 2

hi. Sorry to hear you're in this predicament but there's only one answer here I'm afraid - you need to talk to a solicitor/lawyer to get some good legal advice on how you stand as you both have your names on the deeds. If you're on low income you can get help with this and I don't know if it's still running in the uk or not but you used to be able to get a free half hour consultation on what was known as the green card scheme - not to be confused with the green card needed for work in the US however.

Alternatively go and see your local Citizens Advice Bureau or local advice centre for good free advice, although the CAB won't give you LEGAL advice but WILL tell you how you stand.

And good luck. As for your partner, if he's prepared to admit that he has a gambling problem, he CAN fix it! He needs to admit the problem first then he can try Gambler's Anonymous or one of the other similar groups. As an ex compulsive gambler myself who self-treated, I know what a grip an addiction can be and it's really not easy. That doesn't, of course, excuse the cheating!

Hope that helps a bit. Take care. Nick.

Answer 3

Hello,
Yes you can change all the locks, and sue the miserable s-o-b. for divorce, you may have to hand him a set of the new keys, but inform your divorce councel that he has the new keys, and the councellor will get them back legally for you, which in turn means, you can change all the locks again legally again, so your ex-to-be husband is left holding a dead set of keys. You will also have to make your councellor know you will not be held responsible for your ex's debts, and he will have this published for you, and that stops your ex from selling any/all or his part of where you live. Which secures your home.
If you live with an addicted Gambler, Boozer, Druggie or whatever his addictions, you too are on a slippery slope to H*ll, dump him legally, and lose nothing, but make sure you are squeaky clean, or all this makes an awful mess when it blows your face off too. If you are clean, you have nothing to fear but fear itself, and you have the law on your side, you don't mention any children from your marriage, so protect them too, they still have a dad, you make it so they don't have to rely on him, and get the laws of divorce around them too. This can be so messy, but you are not to blame, it would help if you knew who the other woman is, she can be blamed for some of this break down too.... I do so hope it goes well for you, but DO. GET HELP.....Tony M

Answer 4

You can perform any sort of maintenance on the house that you feel is necessary. But, when the police are called, they will tell you that you have to let him back in. They are good about trying to convince people to "find a place to crash" until things calm down, but legally, they won't be able to make him leave. If that is the case, they will likely warn both of you that is they are called out there again that night, they will take you both in.

Concerning the above answers, if they divorce, then he will get 1/2 the equity in the house anyways. Or, the person moving out will get it, if it is you.

Answer 5

Time to cancel all the credit cards, start stashing cash in a separate savings account. Gather every little thing that is laying around the house that is valuable jewelry, rare coins, bonds, collectibles. if you can sell them on yahoo auctions. otherwise stash them where he can't find them.

Start preparing to divorce him, you will more than likely need money to re-start your life so hide as much as you can in your own personal savings account.

Don't change the locks, just stick it out as long as you can and put as much money away as you can for yourself that he doesn't know about.

Then when it comes time to divorce, you'll have a nest egg to fall back on as that process makes it's way through the court.

You may consider filing for divorce early and putting the house on the market for sale talk to an attorney most all divorce attorneys give a free consultation.

Answer 6

In most states the answer to this question is NO. He is entitled to be in the house every bit as much as you are, regardless of terrible behavior. If you were to change the locks, all he would have to do is show up with the police and they would allow him into the home.

www.bauerfamilylaw.com

Answer 7

It varies by country. In the UK go to the Citizen's Advice Bureau - CAB -for help and advice on getting some free legal help.

The debts bit is critical for you - this is likely to affect your credit rating in the future, perhaps limiting mortgages for your future properties. CAB will also help on this front, knowing what to say to the companies that he's borrowing from, if in joint names. If it is join, you'll need to contact them to preserve your own financial wellbeing too. Get the source of joint credit fuelling his debts stopped asap.

Ignore the CAB bit if you're not in the UK.

Good luck! Rob

Answer 8

Instead of locking him out and trying to block him not only from his personal property but also out of your life, why don't you try sitting down with him and talking about the issues that are going on in the marriage? Gambling addiction is common and their is help out there for it. I think maybe this is something that could be worked out one way or another. Be supportive of him when trying to overcome his addiction and help him get through it so he doesn't have to alone. That way you'll be showing to him that you are supportive, and that you care about your marriage.

Answer 9

if both your names are on the deeds you cannot change the locks,you are potentially making him homeless and the law will be on his side.

Answer 10

Start protecting you assets. Seek a legal separation and speak to a lawyer.