No, so long as you keep it completely separate from your marital assets. However, if you expend money on the house during the marriage (mortgage, equity loan, improvements, repairs, taxes, insurance, hoa dues), then she may be entitled to her half of those funds to be reimbursed to her. If you are paying down on the principal of the mortgage during the marriage, there is an argument that she is entitled to some part of the principal and even some part (very small) of the increase in value during your marriage. If you pay all the expenses out of an account that is made up entirely of your pre-marital money and money earned from renting the house out; and no community money (money you earn during the marriage) is ever spent on the home, then she isn't entitled to any part of it or any reimbursement. Keep your records, just in case there is ever a divorce. Also, you could do a very clear pre-marital agreement, properly prepared by attorneys, where you each have your own lawyer representing each of you, wherein she gives up any right to reimbursement of community funds expended on the home as well as any right to any reimbursement of principal paid, and any right to increase in value during the marriage.
Answered on Apr 07th, 2015 at 3:07 PM