After 20 years unmarried, can I claim anything from our shared assets?

[NotMarriedSoStupid]

I know, I have been stupid.

Together 20 years, both have one previous child, none together.

I have paid half the mortgage and bills and all the food. I have significantly out earned him over the 20 years. All money shared.

He walked out, well he made me leave. Everything is in his name, I thought I had protected myself through the solicitor but turns out it is all worthless (his solicitor suggested it when I was worried about my situation, I was naive)

Is there anything I can do to fight for what we have built? It is worth a few million and yet I am struggling to pay rent, yet it is my money that allowed this accumulation

If anyone is reading this in a similar situation and isn't married, get married. I am going to lose everything I have worked for unless someone has some idea.

(Ai title but it seems to work)

If you have paid half the mortgage and have evidence of it, which would be helpful, you have a beneficial interest in the property. I suggest you get legal advice from a good lawyer.

Sorry to hear this has happened to you.
https://www.ringroselaw.co.uk/2016/08/02/18055/
I know someone who has successfully used Section 17 of the Married Women’s Property Act 1882 recently to claim a significant proportion of a property they didnt legally own but lived in and contributed to the bills and renovations of when the relationship broke down, the key was them being engaged.

Does she or could ge argue she was paying rent?

But was your friend married ? OP isn't married

You need to take proper legal advice. If you have paid 50% of the mortgage for 20 years, there’s a possibility you have an implied interest in the house (from memory - a constructive trust: https://www.samconveyancing.co.uk/news/conveyancing/constructive-trust-how-to-prove-an-implied-or-express-agreement-5556)

But you should definitely take proper legal advice. The rules around this are complex.

Lawyer up and don’t use just anyone, do your research.

You want a litigation lawyer rather than a divorce lawyer. I did this. Because I was able to show I paid into the mortgage I got half the house. Not married. 20 years together. Found out I was on the mortgage but not the deeds. Also go to the mortgage provider and ask for a copy of the mortgage application if you can. It might help. Mine had my ex’s intention to add me onto the deeds which he never did.
Good luck. It’s a bumpy ride but here I am 2 years later with a home of my own and this time I actually own it. Go for it 👍

No, she was engaged and section 17 includes provision for engaged couples.

You need to prove your beneficial interest in the property. You need a specialised solicitor in family law / litigation. You do have a claim but like pp you will have to fight for it but sounds like it’s worth it. Gather all the evidence you can about your payments into the property.

Thank you for all the replies.

His leaving corresponded with a joint agreement for me to take a lower wage- which has now left me struggling to pay for anything.

@Tryagain26 is right, he is saying I was paying rent and we weren't a couple.

@NotMarriedSoStupid - ignore what he’s saying. He won’t help you make your case. Get proper legal advice and take it from there.

Get some advice as it may fall under TOLATA Law which is for disputes of this kind. Good luck OP

If is millions ££ he is getting then see a lawyer fast.
Did first solicitor advise you to put house in his name? Why?

If you were paying rent then you should have a written agreement and presumably he would have been declaring the rent payments as income for tax purposes over a certain amount?

Did you ever pay a higher amount of the mortgage that for example corresponded to the 10% additional amount one can usually pay per year?
Can you show your payments related to interest rate changes?

Anything that wasn’t a regular rental amount.

Yes, I think you have a good claim on the property under the doctrine of proprietary estoppel. You would have to convince the court that he had promised you an interest in the property, and that you relied on that promise. Somebody else mentioned a constructive trust, which is a related concept. Go and see a good solicitor, not a high street one, if you can afford it.

Good luck.

edit: here, I found this for you
https://www.birketts.co.uk/legal-update/the-law-of-proprietary-estoppel/

He’s saying you were not a couple so you need some evidence that you were , photos of you both together out and about , holidays , statements from family friends , anything providing proof you were

I was your partner in this scenario.

My now expartner came to live with me in my house which was mortgaged in my name. I paid the mortgage and bills which were all in my name. We had 3 children together. He contributed to the bills, food etc. Nothing was in his name.

After 13 years together I ended the relationship. Spirred on by a new partner he then said he wanted half my house ( where our joint children were living , didn't want the children but saw them occasionally).

He got a solicitor involved and court action was threatened. I got a solicitor and as part of his legal action my house was valued by an independent valuer.

A date was set for court. I got a barrister. At this point he seemed to panic (think new woman, the brains behind the operation disappeared) and said he wasn't going to bother.

My barrister told me that I had been very lucky as although he wouldn't have got half my house, he would have almost certainly got a significant payment. Engaging a solicitor and then a barrister (although it didn't actually go yo court) cost me thousands but I kept my house.

So get some proper legal advice and don't be put off by what he's claiming.

And we weren't married

Thank you all.

I want to fight this, but I'm worried cost will be prohibitive. His son isn't talking to him as he thinks he is BU, but if anything this seems to have made him more angry with me.

Do you think I could take this to court without employing a solicitor? Ballpark they have said £30,000 upwards.

I don't have it.

Married to a judge.

Courts are not stupid, if you can show that you were a couple and you paid half the mortgage and bills and all the food then they will understand that and you will get what's rightfully yours.

People don't often end up in court unless one or other is vindictive or there's very large sums involved. If your ex isn't being reasonable then an FDA is where you start.

To do this well you'd need a solicitor. £30k is probably over the top, but £20k is realistic if your ex is being uncooperative.

If you want to, you can start the FDA process yourself. It's an online application and basically a judge listens to you both and helps you reach and agreement. You don't need a barrister, and people can't lie during this process.

If you can't afford to pay a solicitor then actually chatGPT is surprisingly helpful.

I mean FDR not FDA!

I think you’d be foolish to try and pursue this without a solicitor.

Id suggest finding one which will allow you a free initial chat, and who will then take payment in instalments (e.g. £100 per week). You could then choose to pay this off in full once you have sorted it all out by remortgaging (if you got the house) or using some of the funds from a sale etc, or they may just let you continue a payment plan for a set number of months.

you really need proper legal advice on your position and the best way to proceed here. You can get a McKenzie friend to help you but this is quite a complex situation where I’d be worried about not having the right advice and things going a way that you aren’t able to anticipate

I thought that was only for divorce?

I do appreciate what you are both saying, but I don't have the money - I've spend £750 already, and yet don't know any more than what I've read on MN.