Can I charge for work on the house before we where married

Dear Anonymous:   Once you married your wife (3 years ago) any appreciation in the value of the house, including mortgage paydown and market appreciation, are included in a statutory formula to determine what share of the value of the home is yours.   As to the improvements you made to the home prior to the marriage, you may have a right to assert a claim for an equitable lien against the property.  You would have to be able to prove the value of labor and services you supplied to the home in order to prove up the amount you might be entitled to.  So, if you have receipts, time records, etc. now is the time to get these records together.  There is no guarantee you'd recover for the equitable lien, but surely if you don't  ask for it you definitely won't get it.    Best of luck, Cindy S. Vova Law Offices of Cindy S. Vova, P.A. Broward/Boca Raton/Miami-Dade 954-316-3496/561-962-2785 info@vovalaw.com