Invoice in joint names but court order saying one person is not responsible

[Blushingm]

I own a property with a residents charge attached.

As part of my divorce it states I am solely responsible for any fees and charges related to the property.

Ive asked for this invoice to be made out to me and not me & my ex husband as it is my bill not his.

Ive provided them with a copy of the court order but they say they can’t remove his name off the invoice now or for future years.

Am I right in saying I don’t want to pay it if his name is on the invoices? I am happy to pay it if the invoice is made out to me? He has no financial interest as stated in the court order though his name is still on the deed (this is stuck with an issue at land Registry at the moment)

Why don’t you want to pay it? It wouldn’t have crossed my mind not to.

I presume @Blushingm doesn't want to pay it because it will then suggest that he has part paid for it because the bill is in both names, but she has solely paid for it?

But she can evidence she paid it from her bank account, surely? With no corresponding receipt in of 50% from ex?

The family court can’t regulate your contract with third parties. The property people would rather have two people liable. The family court can regulate the liabilities between you and your ex which is what they’ve done. You’ll be liable to pay the charge even though they’re producing an invoice in both names and they could sue you both for not paying but your ex could then take you to court to enforce the order for you to pay it (plus costs).
Is the property not being transferred to your sole name? In which case I’d expect the charges would then be invoiced to you as presumably they follow ownership?

As long as it gets paid it could say Christmas fairy why on earth does it matter it needs to be paid, sure op stop paying it it will jist build up

Exactly that - if I pay it with ex’s name on it could appear he’s paid it.

Im happy to pay it but I think it should just be my name of the invoice.

With his name on the invoice it also means he could, if he wanted, show some sort of financial link to me.

Would you pay an invoice with some random persons name on it?

If i had a court order to say i would pay something i would pay it, seems logical to me

But if he did try to show some kind of financial link (why?) then again you could show you paid it AND show the court order saying that you’re solely responsible.

And, anyway, until the property itself is solely in your name, you ARE linked to him.

Honestly, the court order is clear - you sound like you’re looking to make difficulties.

OP this sounds really stressful. I think you might be fighting the wrong battle though. If you get a receipt you can demonstrate you paid for this invoice in its entirety. I don’t think it’s worth anything to change the names on the invoice - it’ll just appear that you’re trying to avoid or delay paying it.

The best thing would be to just pay it and get a receipt.

If it’s not paid though and a CCJ issued then he can show he’s not liable with the court order surely?

Ive asked them to invoice just to me - I’ve provided the court order to show I am solely responsible for the bill.

I wouldn’t pay an electricity bill with someone else’s name on.

Why do they say he's liable to pay?
As someone said up the thread if he's still jointly responsible for it as between the landlord and you both, you are being silly to refuse to pay.
According to your contract with the landlord its a joint liability.
Just because you've agreed in private proceedings that you'll cover it solely doesnt mean they'll just invoice you.

If he's still on the property deeds then they likely cannot remove him.

Not remotely the same as a bill with a random persons name.

You can keep clear records for yourself to show that you've paid it until land registry is updated and then they'll be able to remove him.

Your ex isn't a random person.

You just need to pay it. Once he's off the deeds, they'll remove him.

You would if it was joint liability according to the contract between the electric company and you both!

I’m happy to pay it but if it’s my bill I’d expect it to be in my name. I took all the debts in exchange for all the equity and all those bills were transferred to my name rather than joint names

All my utilities are solely in my name.

The electric company were happy to remove his name with a copy of the court order surely- there was debit outstanding at the time

An invoice is simply a demand for payment. Your payment of it is not evidence of a financial link between you. If he was pursued for the debt by the invoicing company he could present the court order to show he isn’t liable.

Pay the invoice, (he won’t even know about it being in his name unless he’s been sent a copy too) and get the land registry updated ASAP. Once he’s off the title write to them again with a copy of the title and ask them to remove him. If he had died would they still send you an invoice with his name on? That would be really bloody cruel.

So can I clarify this. As part of your financial order with divorce you are now solely responsible for any charges to the property.
You are awaiting land registry to remove his name from Deeds ( order or letters show you have been awarded his share I presume) but Land registry has delays.

I would be feeling the same. They are being awkward. I can imagine for you It’s a point of principal. They can sort their systems out to produce accurate bills. I’d not want his name appearing on a bill. Just like if he was dead they can sort it. For some who have experienced abuse at corner partner it would also be triggering and upsetting. Further control having his name on stuff.

No thanks. Sort it out!

if they had said “ Really sorry but until land registry is updated we have to keep him on the bill as that is what we are bound by this in terms of ownership- we can’t rely on a court order - but please let us know when land registry resolved and we’ll change it”

Then I’d pay it this once due to the delays.

But if they are being awkward and obstructive then they get awkward and heels dug in back!

But you know why it’s still in joint names - because the underlying property is still in joint names. Once the land registry has been updated then no doubt the invoicing company will update their records.

if you don’t pay it, when you’re clearly liable for it, then you’re one who will ultimately damage your credit report.

This isn’t the gotcha you seem to think it is.

Utilities are different. They often have names that differ from ownership eg rentals. But if the management company or whomever are invoicing you are going off the deeds and he's on it then I'm afraid they are unlikely to change it until the deeds are changed.

My utility provider was useless and refused to take my ex’s name off the bill. However, they would allow a name change so my bill now has my name duplicated on it.

You were married when the charge was applied
therefore the charge is applicable to both

A divorce settlement has stipulated you are responsible but it can’t actually overrule who the invoice is addressed to Op. surely you can see that

If his name is still in the deeds of the property then surely there IS still a financial link between you?