Alex and Ben met in 2007 and rapidly became a couple. After living together for a few
Question:
Alex and Ben met in 2007 and rapidly became a couple. After living together for a few years, Alex inherited a sum of money. This was enough to pay the deposit on a house, which they purchased in 2010. As Ben was unemployed at the time and could not get a mortgage, the house was purchased in Alex's sole name. However, even though Ben subsequently obtained employment, and paid half the mortgage instalments for a couple of years, they were too busy to get round to putting the house into joint names. In 2013, Alex and Ben had a daughter, Tilly, through a surrogacy arrangement. Ben gave up his job to take care of Tilly so he was no longer able to contribute to the mortgage. However, he did occasional odd jobs which enabled him to pay for groceries as well as clothes and toys for Tilly. He also paid some of the utility bills, though Alex paid most of these as he was the one in employment. In 2014, Ben won €20,000 in the national lottery, which he used to convert the garage into a playroom for Tilly and to purchase a family car. Over the last year or so, the relationship between Alex and Ben has become increasingly strained. Alex was working long hours as an essential worker during the pandemic and was never home to spend time with Ben and Tilly. Ben felt increasingly taken for granted and tried, without success, to persuade Alex that his working hours were unreasonable. The stress culminated in an enormous fight, and Alex has now told Ben he wants to separate. Ben is very concerned as to where this leaves him and Tilly, particularly in relation to the family home.
Advise Ben in relation to the equitable ownership of the house.
Note: there is no need to address Ben's potential entitlements under the Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Act 2010.
South-Western Federal Taxation 2020 Comprehensive
ISBN: 9780357109144
43rd Edition
Authors: David M. Maloney, William A. Raabe, James C. Young, Annette Nellen, William H. Hoffman