Can my husband change the door locks?

Can my husband change the door locks?

Yes, you legally can change the locks. Of course, you’re still married, so your spouse has just as much of a right to be in the house (or apartment, or condo) as you do. So, you can change the locks and not get in trouble legally, but that only works if your spouse is willing to take no for an answer.

Can I change the locks before divorce?

The simple answer to whether a party going through separation can change the locks on a property they are living in is usually yes. If there is no court order which affects that person’s right to occupy the property, then in most circumstances there is little prohibiting a party from changing the locks.

Can I change the locks on a jointly owned property?

When the Property is Registered in Both Names Often, couples live in a family home that is registered in both (joint) names. That means, both parties have legal ownership of the property. If that is the case, the answer is yes one of you may change the locks.

What happens if my husband changed the locks?

Changing the locks on the family home so your husband doesn’t have access is not a viable solution to domestic unrest. He can call the police — and the authorities will likely inform you that unless you have a court order granting you the exclusive right to occupy the home, you must let him back in the house.

What if my wife changed the locks?

If your wife does change the locks, you can legally break into your own house to perform the normal home activities. If you break every window in the house, you can be arrested for vandalism or worse.

Can I change locks if wife moves out?

We get this question quite frequently – “My wife moved out. The short answer is “no.” You do not legally have the right to change the locks on a house and prevent your wife from re-entering the home under such circumstances.