My wife and I married a few years ago but already want to divorce. After the wedding I moved into the flat she was living in and had inherited from a relative. It had not been decorated for years. I paid for most of the renovations – new wiring, plumbing and flooring, but repainted the flat myself. Have I any rights in the flat and/or the investment/renovations in it ?
By: דיאנה שאלתיאל•Published on: 12 May, 2022Property settlements of couples marrying from 1974 onwards are governed by the Spouses’ Property Relations Act of 1973. Property inherited before or during the marriage is not included in the pool of marital property to be balanced between the spouses on divorce.
Renovations to inherited property can, however, be regarded as joint property if the source of financing is proved by the spouse claiming reimbursement of some of the cost. Where one spouse carried out some of the renovations him/herself he/she may be able to claim back the equivalent estimated cost of the work. The burden of proof will lie on the side claiming re-imbursement.