What happens to your property when your spouse dies?

Couples commonly own property jointly with the right of survivorship. This is most common for the marital home. For such property, when one spouse dies, the property automatically transfers to the surviving spouse. This transfer takes place outside the probate process. It is also unnecessary to issue a new deed.

How to pass jointly owned property to a surviving spouse?

Execute and record a transfer on death deed for real property you want to pass to your surviving spouse. Title jointly owned bank accounts as joint tenants with rights of survivorship. Name your spouse as the POD or TOD beneficiary bank accounts that are not jointly held.

Can a surviving spouse file a new deed?

It is also unnecessary to issue a new deed. However, sometimes a surviving spouse may choose to file evidence of death, such as an affidavit, to show transfer of the property. When the deceased held property in trust, the deed to the property indicates the property had transferred to the trustee of the trust (generally the deceased).

When does the surviving spouse take full title to the property?

The surviving spouse under a joint tenancy, or tenancy by the entirety, automatically takes full title to the property upon the death of the other spouse. No probate or deed is necessary to vest full title in the surviving spouse.

What happens if one spouse dies when the deed is in the name of both spouses?

If a wife dies before her husband with no survivorship provision in their deed, then her share of the property will pass through her estate. An estate may be probated or administered in probate court whether or not there is a will. If the wife dies leaving a will, her property will pass to those named as beneficiaries in her will.

What happens to a property when someone dies?

For the person who dies, their share of the property passes to the surviving joint owner automatically on their death. If however the property is owned as tenants in common, then the deceased’s share of the property will pass in accordance with their Will or under the rules of intestacy if they have not made a Will.

Does a spouse inherit an estate if their spouse dies?

The surviving spouse does has the right to inherit the unused portion of the deceased spouse’s unused estate tax exemption amount. Further, the surviving spouse generally does not pay any estate taxes regardless of the amount of wealth transferred upon death.

When a spouse dies without a will?

When someone dies without a valid will, the legal term is that they died intestate. Any property that was owned joint tenants with rights of survivorship , which is frequently the case with marital assets, will pass to the surviving spouse without the need for a court process.

What happens to my bank account if my spouse dies?

If your spouse had “payable on death” or “right of survivor” designations on banking and other accounts, they will most likely pass to the surviving spouse. If your spouse owned real property, it may depend on whether that real property was separate or community and whether your spouse had a valid Will or not.

What should I do if my spouse does not have a will?

The Will should be probated to transfer title to the property to the beneficiary. If your spouse did not have a valid Will, the person inheriting the real property will depend on whether your spouse had children with someone other than you and whether the real property is separate or community.

What happens when the sole owner of a house dies?

But when the deceased owned a home in her sole name that is not a factor, and it is likely her estate must pass through probate. The first question in this case is whether or not she left a valid will. A will is valid if it was made and signed appropriately under the laws of the state.

What was the value of the house when my husband died?

But since your husband owned half of it and you inherited half of it when he died, you inherited his half at the current market value as of the day he died. Let’s say the value of his half at the time of his death was $250,000.

When does a married couple own a home?

For example, when a married couple owns a home, the matter of survivorship or inheritance of the home is a concern. Generally, though, a spouse will almost always inherit the property of the deceased spouse, either through a will or in accordance with applicable state law. Married couples normally own property in one of two ways.

What to do if your wife dies and deed is in Your Name?

If a deed contains survivorship provisions, yet the surviving husband does not want to receive his deceased wife’s share of the property, he may disclaim or refuse the share by filing a disclaimer of interest with the probate court where his wife’s estate is being probated.

Who is entitled to the house if the husband dies without a will?

That may very well be his wife, even if her name is not on the title. If he dies without a will, state laws will determine who is entitled to the home. Many states have rules that would provide only a portion of the estate to the surviving spouse.

What should I do if my husband dies?

The former is a more secure solution for you and is easy to have done by a qualified real estate attorney. You need to look at how many questions are posed at this site where a mere… If there is no will, then you will inherit the home when your husband dies if you are still married.

What happens to your property if your spouse dies?

Rights of Survivorship. One way in which a husband and wife may own property is as joint tenants with rights of survivorship. With survivorship, if one of them dies, the surviving spouse becomes the sole owner of the property.

How can I remove the name of a deceased owner from a property?

While nothing needs to be done, the best practice is for a surviving owner to formally record the transfer of the interest. File an affidavit of survivorship with the recorder’s office to remove the deceased person’s name from the title. When the Death Occurs in a Community Property State

These rules give married spouses and children the right to inherit property when there is no valid will. In both situations, you must usually take legal steps within 6 months of your spouse’s death if you want to claim the equalization payment.

Do you have to make a will if your spouse dies?

So if you are in a common-law relationship, each of you must make a will if you want each other to inherit your property when you die. If your spouse dies, you usually become the sole owner of any money or property that you both owned jointly. This is true for both married and common-law couples.

What are the rights of the wife of a deceased husband?

In the case of Christians, the property is considered as self-acquired despite the mode of acquisition and wife has a right to the property of deceased husband along with other legal heirs.

Is there spouse relief on capital gains tax?

The interest she takes is not qualifying and is not a transitional serial interest because it does not arise on the termination of a pre-22 March 2006 interest in possession. No spouse relief is available. There is a death uplift on the death of H for capital gains tax purposes and inheritance tax is payable.

Do you have to pay capital gains when your spouse dies?

When someone dies, the real estate that is part of their estate receives a stepped up basis to the value upon their death. There is no 2-year rule. I think they are referring to the rule that if you sell your home within two years of the death of your spouse, the maximum exclusion is $500,000, not $250,000.

What happens to step up basis after death of husband?

If wife was owner of part of the property as anything other than community property, then only the portion that husband owned would get the stepped up basis. If wife owned the entire property at the time of husband’s death then none of the property would get the stepped up basis, and there would be the gain you state.

When does a spouse of a non-owner of a home die?

When one spouse dies, Laredo says the surviving spouse — if a non-owner — is entitled to possession of the home for 60 days under the FLA. She says there are other factors that may impact the rights of the surviving spouse to the matrimonial home.

What happens to joint ownership of real estate after death?

Joint ownership can come with right of survivorship or without it. Joint ownership with right of survivorship means that two or more individuals own the account or real estate together in equal shares. The surviving owner or owners continue to own the property after one owner dies.

What happens to jointly owned property when one spouse dies?

For example, suppose you and your spouse own a house together jointly as tenants in common. When one spouse dies, the deceased spouse’s interest in the property will not automatically pass to the surviving spouse. Rather, property records will reflect the owner of the property as the surviving spouse and the estate of the deceased spouse.

Can a married couple own a property together?

In other states, married couples can own property using a joint tenancy with rights of survivorship, or JTWROS. Both tenancies by the entirety and joint tenancies with rights of survivorship ensure that surviving spouses inherit the properties they mutually owned with their spouses.

When does a jointly owned property pass to a new owner?

When one co-owner dies, some forms of joint ownership allow the property to pass to new owners without probate. Some jointly held property must go through probate, but others don’t.

Can a spouse be the sole owner of a property?

However, unlike other forms of joint ownership, a tenancy by the entirety can only exist between spouses. Under this form of ownership, once a co-owner dies, the other co-owner — the remaining spouse — becomes the sole property owner. Spouses in Community Property A minority of states allow married couples to own land as community property.

Do you have to give everything to your spouse when you die?

Anything that is jointly owned by you and your spouse will pass to the surviving partner automatically, but you can allocate any solely owned property to whomever you choose. However, if your spouse is financially dependant on you and you do not provide for them sufficiently in your will then they would have grounds to contest the will.

How is property distributed after a person dies?

Matters related to distributing property after someone dies are managed in probate court. The probate process can be relatively simple or very complicated. This depends largely on whether or not the decedent left a legal will or not. If the decedent had a will…

What to do if your husband dies and Your Name is not on the House?

If your husband died and your name is not on your house’s title you should be able to retain ownership of the house as a surviving widow. If your deceased husband left the house to you in a will the transfer of ownership is a simple process.

What happens to the property of the last surviving owner?

The last surviving owner is free to do whatever they like with the property. Joint ownership without rights of survivorship is typically referred to as owning the property as ” tenants in common .”

What happens if my husband left the house to someone else?

If your deceased husband left the house to you in a will the transfer of ownership is a simple process. If your husband did not prepare a will or left the house to someone else, you can make an ownership claim against the house through the probate process.

What was the original value of my house when my husband died?

Your half of the house is still at its original tax basis of $150,000 (half of the original $300,000 purchase price), but your husband’s half of the house stepped up to $275,000 when he died (half of the house’s value on the day he died of $550,000). Add $150,000 to $275,000, and you get $425,000 as the tax basis of your home.

Can a affidavit of death of spouse clear title?

When the house title is held in this manner, an Affidavit of Death of Spouse – Community Property with Right of Survivorship may be recorded by the surviving spouse in conjunction with a copy of the deceased spouse’s death certificate to clear record title.

When to file for Equalization after a spouse’s death?

In both situations, you must usually take legal steps within 6 months of your spouse’s death if you want to claim the equalization payment. Common-law spouses do not inherit any of their spouse’s property unless it was left to them in a valid will.

What happens to property when the managing spouse dies?

In those marriages, when the managing spouse dies, the surviving spouse may not be aware of what they must do to transfer property to their name. In some cases, the children of the deceased spouse may have acquired an ownership interest in the property at the time of the death of the spouse.

How can I transfer title to my property after death?

First, find the deed that transferred the property to the deceased owner. The deed, which may be titled a quitclaim, grant, joint tenancy, or warranty deed, should state how the deceased person, and any co-owners, held title to the property.

Can you remarry in the year of your spouses death?

Remarriage If you remarry in the year of your spouse’s death, you can’t file jointly with your deceased spouse. However, you can use married filing jointly with your new spouse. You and your new spouse can also each use married filing separately.

Can a property be inherited from a deceased owner?

The recipient can avoid risk by rejecting the inheritance —or, as most do, by obtaining title insurance. If the deceased owner held the property jointly, the deed names every owner. And if the title was vested in the deceased as a tenant in common, each person held a specific percentage of the property.

Who is the sole owner of a property when one owner dies?

In most states, when two homeowners buy property, they take title as joint owners with rights of survivorship. In this case, if one owner dies, the other owner automatically becomes the sole owner of the property.

Can a person inherit a property from a deceased owner?

You did not own jointly own the property with the deceased owner while the deceased owner was alive, but the deceased owner named you to inherit the property through a life estate deed, TOD or beneficiary deed, or lady bird deed.

Can a deceased owner act on behalf of a living owner?

The only way to get legal authority to act on behalf of a deceased owner is to open a probate proceeding as described below. This hassle can be avoided by simply using an affidavit of survivorship. Probate is a legal proceeding to transfer a deceased owner’s interest to his or her heirs.

If you want your children to have your property back when your surviving spouse eventually dies, then do a Lifetime Usufruct in your will. If you don’t want or care if your children get your property when your surviving spouse dies, then you can give your spouse full ownership of your property.

When does the property go to the wife?

If the joint ownership is – Tenancy by entirety or joint tenancy with survivorship -then after the death of the husband the property goes to the wife.

What are the rights of a wife in a husband’s estate?

The rights of a wife in her husband’s property after his death depend upon: In case of property jointly acquired by both husband and wife during marriage, the nature of ownership determines the rights of a wife in the property after the death of the husband. The joint ownership can be: There is no right of survivorship.

What happens to your estate if you are married out of community of property?

As there is no accrual, each party is able to distribute their assets according to their wishes. If you are married out of community of property excluding the accrual, then only your spouse’s estate will be wound up.

What happens if my ex husband passes away without a will?

My Ex husband passed away recently without a will and we were married 36 years and have 4 children together, divorced in 2002 and the Quardo’s were never completed due to his attorney not finishing up on anything, My ex did remarry which lasted 6 years and now she wants everything. Do I have any recourse? What is my next step?

How does a surviving spouse probate a deceased husband?

Probate is a process where Sally, the surviving spouse, files a variety of papers at the court and she asks to be allowed to manage her husband’s affairs. A judge will sign an Order that gives her the power to sign on behalf of her deceased husband. Once she has that power she can sign a new deed putting the real property in her individual name.

Can a former spouse receive a death benefit?

On the death of the person who made the beneficiary designation, the former spouse will receive the death benefit. You must take the additional step of revoking or changing the designation of your former spouse as beneficiary of such accounts, assets, and plans.

Does a real estate deed need to disclose the husband and wife?

The fact is the couple was married at the time they purchased the home. Is this a cause for concern? Should they be advised to have a corrective deed prepared or is it not necessary to disclose their status as husband and wife to get the enhanced creditor protection of such a disclosure. New Jersey law is clear.

What happens when a spouse signs a quitclaim deed?

The quitclaim deed would transfer title from the community or joint property to separate property. A quitclaim deed is legally binding. The transferring spouse eliminates his rights to the property after signing it.

What happens to the deed to a home when the sole owner dies?

Of course, many a deed names just one owner. This can be the case even if the homeowner has married. When the sole legal owner dies, the home typically goes into probate. If there is a will, the personal representative for the late homeowner is the executor named in the will.

What happens if only one spouse owns the House?

If it is intended that only one spouse owns the home, the other spouse would have to relinquish rights with a quit claim deed and Preliminary Change of Ownership form. A borrower who is neither on title or obligated on the loan does not have the right to sell or refinance the property. Real estate owned prior to marriage remains separate property.

What happens if my husband dies without a will?

Dying Without a Will. If your husband dies without a will, or intestate, the distribution of his assets becomes more complicated. When a person dies without a will a probate court decides on the distribution of his assets according to the particular state’s intestacy laws.

What happens if there is no surviving spouse or civil partner?

Children of the intestate person will inherit if there is no surviving married or civil partner. If there is a surviving partner, they will inherit only if the estate is worth more than a certain amount. If there is no surviving partner, the children of a person who has died without leaving a will inherit the whole estate.

Is it safe to close my husband’s estate?

Remember, you are wearing multiple hats as estate administrator, beneficiary and parent of your minor daughter when your husband passed. The law still requires you to pay all creditors before you distribute his estate. Is it safe to close his estate?

What happens if a husband dies without a will?

If the husband made a will before he married, then the surviving spouse will receive the share of the estate to which she would have been entitled if the husband had died without a will, unless the will gives her a larger share, or unless it appears from the will that it was made in contemplation of the marriage.

When does a wife take her husband’s intestate estate?

A wife takes all of her husband’s intestate estate, if he does not have children with another woman. If a husband shares children with a woman other than his surviving spouse, the children will receive part of the intestate estate.

Can a surviving spouse own half of a property?

The surviving spouse will continue to own her one-half interest in the property, so only the deceased spouse’s one-half interest in the property will pass through probate. Joint Tenants. The more common type of joint ownership for spouses is called joint tenancy, or in some states, tenancy by the entirety.

Who is entitled to the property after a spouse’s death?

In some instances of joint ownership, however, a deed is unnecessary, as the surviving spouse will automatically take full title to the property immediately upon the deceased spouse’s death. Spouses can own property jointly or separately on the property deed. Generally, the spouse who is actually named on the deed is the owner of the property.

What happens to surviving spouse if husband dies?

The answer to what the surviving spouse inherits is the typical lawyer’s response, “it depends.” Some examples can help to show the results under different situations. To keep the examples simple, I am going to assume that the husband dies before the wife – forgive me, all you husbands out there.

What happens to a property when the owner of the property dies?

If the property is in one of these states, the deceased person might have created a revocable transfer on death deed while alive. Upon the owner’s death, the county receives the certified copy of the death certificate and notarized affidavit of death, and the transfer on death deed is executed.

When did the wife of the deceased husband pass away?

They have three rental properties (one of the properties began renting in 2014, the other two are at least 20 years old each). The wife passed away in April, 2016. For the 2016 return, do I split each of the rental properties into two assets, with the deceased wife’s half receiving 50% step up basis, starting on the date of death?

Can a surviving widow own a deceased husband’s house?

As a surviving widow you have a claim to your deceased’s husband estate in all states. The court will grant you at least a partial ownership of the house along with your deceased husband’s other assets.

Can a deceased spouse distribute property in a will?

In sum, a deceased spouse can use a will to distribute both separate property and his share of the community property. In common law property states, a spouse is not entitled to one-half of all community property, as is the case in a community property state. In general, the title of the property determines ownership of the property.

Can a property be transferred to a surviving spouse?

The deed for the property can determine how to transfer the property to a surviving spouse. This process may be automatic, as in the case of property owned jointly with the right of survivorship. Or the process may be more complicated, requiring the use of the courts and the probate process.

What happens if I do not probate my husband’s estate?

If she does not probate George’s estate, Sally will not be able to sell the home or other real property. Why? It takes two signatures to sell the property. Both owners, George and Sally, need to sign the deed, but without a probate, Sally has no legal authority to sign on behalf of her deceased husband, George.

When did my mother leave the property to my brothers?

Q When my mother passed away in 2012, she left her property to me and my three brothers – the deeds have been changed accordingly. One of my brothers has lived in the property for around 25 years.

What happens to your parent’s property if you remarry?

In community property states, such as Texas, a surviving spouse may get the rights to property acquired while they were married. This means that if your parent remarries, and buys a house with his new spouse, his portion of the property rights may transfer to his spouse automatically, even if he intended to leave his share to you.

What happens to my mother’s estate when she dies?

If your mother had a spouse at the time of her death, then the distribution of her estate depends upon the ownership and titling of her assets. Generally, the majority of her assets would pass to her surviving spouse. Children or grandchildren may inherit a smaller share.

What happens to your house when your husband dies?

Because your name was not on the title prior to your husband’s death, the house was not considered your property at that time. The Probate Process When your husband dies his assets will be distributed to his heirs according to his estate plan.

What are my rights from my deceased mother’s?

If there are minor children their share is often put into a trust for safe-keeping Surviving step-children usually don’t get anything. Any property that your mother inherited before she married belongs solely to her unless she lived in a community property state and the surviving spouse contributed to pay taxes, maintain the property, etc.

What happens to a deceased mother’s house in Missouri?

In Missouri, if your mother has a will, then her assets go by the terms of the will. If she does not have a will and the house is in her name and her deceased husband’s name, then the intestacy statute has the estate going 50% to her husband and the remaining split between your mother’s children.

Can a death deed transfer real estate to a beneficiary?

Certain states allow transfer on death deeds to transfer real estate to a designated beneficiary. If the property is in one of these states, the deceased person might have created a revocable transfer on death deed while alive.

Who is entitled to half of a deceased spouses estate?

It is also important to remember that the surviving spouse of the deceased may have a claim against the deceased’s estate by virtue of the law governing the marriage or an antenuptial contract. Spouses who are married in community of property have a right in law to one half of the net value of the joint estate.

Do you have to go through probate if your spouse dies?

These typically do not need to go through probate if there is a surviving beneficiary designation. If your spouse had “payable on death” or “right of survivor” designations on banking and other accounts, they will most likely pass to the surviving spouse.

What happens to my estate if I die without a will?

However, if you pass away intestate (without a will) or with a joint will then your estate will automatically pass to your spouse if you have one. To give you peace of mind that your assets are being passed to the people you want them to be, then it’s always best to consult with a lawyer to draw up a standing will that conveys your wishes clearly.

Can a surviving spouse pay off a deceased spouse’s debt?

In community property states and depending on that state’s law, the surviving spouse may be required to use community property to pay debts of a deceased spouse. The community property states include Alaska (if a special agreement is signed), Arizona, California, Idaho, Louisiana, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, Washington, and Wisconsin.

Do you need a grant of representation if your spouse has died?

Any significant assets held in your spouse’s sole name are likely to need a Grant of Representation. However, if the Estate is small, particularly if none of the assets exceed £5,000 then it may not be necessary to obtain a Grant of Representation.

Can a deceased spouse’s will be used to transfer property?

Some states allow the surviving spouse to petition the probate court to use the deceased spouse’s will as evidence that certain property now becomes the surviving spouse’s property. If the probate court grants the petition, the will and the court order then become official records of transfer.

What happens when a spouse dies without a will?

In such a situation, the probate court oversees the distribution of the decedent’s estate minus the exempt assets. Non-probate assets automatically pass directly to the designated beneficiary upon the decedent’s death or according to the terms of the governing document.

What should I do when my spouse passes away?

One of the biggest misconceptions out there may be the belief that little needs to be done and the vast majority of the work occurs upon the eventual death of the surviving spouse. Fortunately, with the proper planning in place, the “to do list” potentially can be minimized.

What happens when the joint owner of a property dies?

The surviving joint owner with rights of survivorship (“JTWROS”) continues to own the property, inheriting the share of the deceased person by operation of law, after the other owner dies. Probate is unnecessary. In some states, couples can choose to hold property as tenants by the entirety .

Can a surviving spouse take on the mortgage of a deceased spouse?

A surviving spouse left with a home that has a mortgage in the deceased spouse’s name can take some comfort. A 1982 federal law allows a surviving spouse to take on the mortgage left behind by the deceased spouse. Holding title as “tenants by the entirety” is another way of protecting a spouse from losing a home upon the death of a partner.

What happens if my wife is not on the mortgage?

(Doing so could create problems for the lender as the spouse would have rights that they might not be able to foreclose on.)… If you are actually married (you referred to her as your wife) then she has rights under law to your estate. She may also have ownership rights to the property, particularly if her name is on the title.

Who is responsible for a mortgage when a spouse dies?

If you die without a will, someone is still responsible for paying the mortgage on your property. It might be the responsibility of the estate, the surviving spouse, the mortgage company, or even the insurance company depending on the circumstances.

Can a spouse be on the mortgage but not the title?

I agree with the other responses that the TITLE to the property is the key factor and not the mortgage. It is relatively unusual, however, to have one spouse on the mortgage and not the other; particularly if the person not on the mortgage IS on the title of the property.

What happens to my house if my husband dies without a will?

It all depends on whether your husband has children, too. If he has children and dies without a will and only his name is on the deed of the house, you will receive “life estate” — that is, you will have the right to live in the home for the rest of your life and, after you pass away, your husband’s children would inherit the property.

What happens if your spouse is not on the deed?

Property Deed. If your name and your spouse’s name are on the deed, as is likely, the property was given or sold to both of you. That means that each of you have a legal interest in the property. The fact that you are not on a home insurance document probably doesn’t impact your liability on the mortgage.

What to do if your husband dies and you have sole ownership of Your House?

Sole Ownership. If the deceased spouse has no will or leaves a will specifying that his interest in the house passes to his surviving spouse, an abbreviated procedure called a Spousal Property Petition transfers the deceased spouse’s interest to the survivor, offering a faster alternative to the probate process.

What to do if your husband dies and you have a joint tenancy?

Joint Tenancy. When you and your husband took title as joint tenancy between spouses, and one of them dies, the surviving spouse can record an Affidavit of Death of Joint Tenant in the county records office to clear title to the property.

What to do when a husband or wife dies?

The Joint Tenancy Process. When a husband and wife take title as joint tenancy between spouses, and one of them dies, the surviving spouse can record an Affidavit of Death of Joint Tenant in the county records office to clear title to the property.

Can a husband and wife jointly own a property?

When you purchase a property with a co-owner, whether that be a partner, husband, wife, friend or family member, at some point in the conveyancing process you should be asked how you wish to hold the property. Your options will be to either hold the property as joint tenants or as tenants in common.

What to do when your friend’s husband dies?

Do the things you need to do to survive and to take care of your children. Don’t worry about what anyone else thinks. Above all, take care of yourself. Take time to relax. Take time for grieving. May your faith sustain you, and may God give you strength to carry on each day as you make so many difficult decisions.

Is it good to own property with friends?

It’s easy to see the advantages of co-owning real property with family or friends. Maybe it would be difficult to swing the mortgage on that mountain cabin by yourself. But . . . by adding two of your closest friends to the mix, you could cut the payments to one-third and provide a beautiful setting for your family to make incredible memories.

You can leave half of the community property (property you and your spouse or partner own together) to anyone you wish. After your death, your spouse or partner automatically keeps his or her half of the community property.

Can a spouse who does not own property give it away?

Under your state’s laws, your spouse or partner may own some property you believe is yours. And if you do not own it, you cannot give it away—either now or at your death.

Can a married couple own half of a home?

In some states, they may already have a right to half your property just because you’re married (California and Texas, for example), but in others, you may need to add them to the deed and title before they can lay claim to the home. Their feelings. Does your spouse want to have a stake in the home?

What happens when I put my spouse on the deed to my house?

When you put your spouse on the Deed to a property that you owned individually prior to marriage, you are creating what’s called a tenancy by the entireties. This is basically a special form of ownership available only to spouses and it affords special protection from creditors of only one spouse.

What happens to your house if your husband dies?

If there is no will, then you will inherit the home when your husband dies if you are still married. If he writes a will, he may be able to transfer the home (or part of it) to someone else.

What happens if you bought a house before you were married?

If you bought the home before you were married, then it was your separate property acquired before marriage (although if some of her money went into the purchase, then she has a separate property claim to that money).

What should I do if my husband left the house to someone else?