You don't say if you ever included your wife on the title to your house, but generally, if you paid off the house before the marriage, and it is titled only in your name before the marriage, it's a non-marital asset and is not generally subject to equitable distribution. However, your wife may be able to make a claim to one-half of the increase in value (if any) of the house during the marriage, if the increase can be attributed to factors other than passive market forces. If the fair market value of the house has not increased during the marriage, then it is most likely that she has no claim.
Answered on Aug 13th, 2013 at 9:13 AM