Ex-husband kept the house but I'm stuck on the mortgage for 2 more years

My divorce finalized 3 months ago in Columbus, Ohio, and my ex got the house in the settlement but I'm still on the mortgage because he can't refinance on his own yet. He's already late on two payments and my credit score dropped 60 points last month. Is there any way to force him to refinance faster or do I just have to ride this out and hope he doesn't tank us both?

3 comments

3 Comments

hart.mark3d ago

Stuck on the mortgage" really sums it up - lawyer up now.

gibson.elizabeth3d ago

...and honestly even then it can be a mess. My cousin went through something similar last year where the bank was dragging their feet on a probate thing with her late husband's name still on the deed. She kept trying to do it all by herself thinking she was saving money. By the time she finally called a lawyer the interest had piled up and she ended up paying way more in the end. So I always say if you're feeling stuck it's worth the consultation fee just to know where you stand. Some things you just can't DIY, you know?

kimreed3d ago

Makes you think about how many people fall into that trap, doesn't it? @hart.mark's got the right idea about lawyering up early. I've seen the same pattern with homeowners trying to fix a plumbing leak on their own, thinking they're saving a few bucks, only to end up with a flooded basement and a bill triple what it would've been if they'd just called someone in the first place. Pride and penny pinching cost people more than they ever save.