My Ex-Fiancé Put My Name On The Deed To His House And Then Left Me

Summary

The Ramsey Show Highlights

Episode: My Ex-Fiancé Put My Name On The Deed To His House And Then Left Me
Date: September 19, 2025
Host: Dave Ramsey and team
Guest/Caller: Rebecca

---

Overview

This episode centers on Rebecca, who finds herself in a highly unusual and emotionally taxing financial situation. After her fiancé bought a million-dollar ranch in cash, put her on the deed as co-owner, and booked their wedding, he abruptly tried to move the property into a trust and left her. Now, Rebecca faces the emotional fallout and complex legal and ethical questions: Should she keep her legal share of the property, sell, or settle for less to move on? Dave and the team advise Rebecca on the moral, financial, and practical steps forward after such a sudden upheaval.

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Rebecca's Story: The Setup and Betrayal

• Rebecca shares how her then-fiancé purchased "my dream property" (a ranch worth $1 million, paid in cash) and added her to the deed, assuring her of his commitment and marriage plans.
• He moved in for three weeks, then tried to get her to sign the deed into a trust (ostensibly for "protection"), which coincided with plotting his exit. He left shortly afterward.
• Rebecca is left as legal co-owner, managing 20 acres and six animals alone.

"Broke my heart. I'm left to manage the whole 20 acres on my own and six animals." – Rebecca [01:53]

---

2. Legal and Ethical Dilemma: What is Fair?

• Technically, Rebecca is entitled to 50% ownership of the ranch as her name is on the deed, yet she questions the morality of claiming half the value, given the money was his.
• Dave explores the ethical gray area: What does Rebecca actually deserve, considering she quit her job and moved for the relationship?

"Instead, you're sitting there on a half a million dollar windfall because this guy's loopy." – Dave Ramsey [03:33]

---

3. Assessing Rebecca’s Losses and Next Steps

• Rebecca quit a well-paid, stable job in private aviation, moved states, and rented out her home (occupied by tenants until May).
• She has a new job, but it's less stable and she lost approximately three months of income.
• Dave considers what Rebecca is genuinely "owed"—suggesting reimbursement for lost wages and transition pains versus a punitive sum.

"I don't mind tagging him for 100 grand or something... Past that, this is dirty money for me." – Dave Ramsey [05:51]

---

4. Emotional and Practical Guidance

• The panel emphasizes the importance of moving on emotionally and not tying future peace to this property or relationship.
• Dave and the team suggest negotiating a clean buyout: Rebecca could ask for a sum reflecting her losses (suggested $100k–$200k), sign over the deed, and walk away.

"Anything that keeps me in this story is disturbing. I want to get it out of this story. It's a bad story." – Dave Ramsey [07:33]

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "I think this guy's an absolute… crazy man and weird and everything else." – Dave Ramsey [04:03]
• "You're distracted by evil stuff." – Dave Ramsey [07:45]
• "There's a whiplash penalty. I'm willing that he should pay." – Dave Ramsey [08:31]
• "If you were my daughter, that's what I tell you to do." – Dave Ramsey [09:05]

---

Important Timestamps

• Rebecca describes the breakup and being left with the ranch: [00:06 – 01:53]
• Debate on legal entitlement vs. ethics: [02:07 – 03:37]
• Loss of career stability and financial damages: [04:42 – 05:27]
• Dave’s suggestion on settling and moving forward: [06:47 – 07:45]
• Final advice on getting out and letting go: [08:09 – 09:10]

---

Conclusion

Rebecca’s situation exemplifies the intersection of financial and emotional turmoil. Dave and his team recognize that although Rebecca is legally entitled to a large sum, the healthiest choice is to seek compensation for actual damages and move on, both financially and emotionally. The episode highlights themes of self-worth, legal rights versus moral clarity, and the complexities of entangling finances with romance before marriage.

Actionable advice:

• Calculate a fair settlement for lost wages and upheaval (e.g., $100k–$200k).
• Engage an attorney to negotiate with her ex for a clean buyout.
• Sell the animals and return to her own home once the tenants' lease is up.
• Prioritize emotional recovery and avoid remaining tied to “bad juju.”

"Put this whole thing way in the rearview mirror... Anything that keeps me in this story is disturbing." – Dave Ramsey [07:33–09:10]

Transcript

[Dave Ramsey]

Brought to you by the EveryDollar app. Start budgeting for free today.

[Rebecca]

Well, I'm in a pretty interesting situation and kind of sad as well. Earlier this year, I guess a boyfriend at the time of two years was ready to take the next step, and he wanted to move to my state, and he ended up purchasing a ranch, which is kind of like my dream property, for about a million dollars, paid cash, put me on the deed, and prior to that, I said, you know, I don't feel comfortable doing this unless I am. Unless we are married. At that point, he was like, nope, we're going to get married. A venue was booked, a ring was purchased, and we move forward. He moves in for about three weeks and then tries to almost trick me into signing the deed of the house into a trust while he's, like, planning his exit. And he left. So which whole other set of emotional.

[Dave Ramsey]

Issues he paid cash.

[Rebecca]

He did.

[Dave Ramsey]

Of a million dollars for a property and put your name on the deed.

[Rebecca]

Yes, sir.

[Dave Ramsey]

And then he took off.

[Rebecca]

Yes, sir.

[Dave Ramsey]

Wild. So I don't understand how he profits from this. It almost sounds like he was trying to scam. Is he just flighty or what?

[Rebecca]

I think he has some. I think he wants. He liked the idea of this, and I think.

[Dave Ramsey]

Broke your heart.

[Rebecca]

Broke my heart. I'm left to manage the whole 20 acres on my own and six animals.

[Dave Ramsey]

It's not your house.

[Rebecca]

It's not my house.

[Dave Ramsey]

Well, he. It's his million dollars, right?

[Rebecca]

Yeah. But I'm on the deed, so technically, I am 50% owner. And my home, I rented it out, and I have tenants in there through the end of May.

[Caller 1]

Oh, my gosh. Okay.

[Caller 2]

Is he asking for the property back at all? Like, are you guys gonna sell?

[Rebecca]

He tried to. Like I said, like, when he was planning his exit, before I put all the pieces together, he said, oh, someone's gonna contact you. You know, to put the house in a trust to protect you in case something happens.

[Dave Ramsey]

How long has he been gone?

[Rebecca]

Six weeks.

[Caller 1]

Okay. All right. Wow.

[Dave Ramsey]

Okay.

[Rebecca]

I am trying to figure out what my goal should be in this situation. Should I say, okay, let's list the property, but before it's listed, obviously have it worked out. And, I mean, my life flipped upside down.

[Dave Ramsey]

Has he been in contact with you since he left?

[Rebecca]

We. We spoke once, and that's when it was basically like, this is over. We're not doing this.

[Caller 2]

It's so interesting. It's usually him calling us Rebecca, being like, crap, I bought a ranch with my fiance, who I'm not. Who I'm not with anymore. What do I do for my million dollars?

[Dave Ramsey]

Instead? You're sitting there on a half a million dollar windfall because this guy's loopy.

[Rebecca]

Yes. So do I buy him out? Do I buy him out? Do I take the. You know, I obviously will work with attorneys to have drawn up. So the property is listed and there's an offer. We have a plan in place as far as you do so at the last minute. Well, we would. That would be my goal, if we list it would be to have everything written out. There's no question.

[Dave Ramsey]

I think this guy's an absolute. I mean, the story you've told me, he's an absolute crazy man and weird and everything else.

[Rebecca]

Very sad. I'm very sad about this.

[Caller 2]

Everybody was great though, Rebecca.

[Dave Ramsey]

And yet, if I'm in your shoes, I don't feel entitled to $500,000 of his money.

[Rebecca]

I don't feel that way. Like I questioned that, but I quit a job. I uprooted my entire life. And this gesture that he made was to show his level of commitment and his seriousness for the relationship.

[Dave Ramsey]

So what were you making at your.

[Rebecca]

About a hundred.

[Dave Ramsey]

Can you go back?

[Rebecca]

I cannot go back there. No.

[Caller 1]

Okay.

[Dave Ramsey]

What were you doing?

[Rebecca]

I work in private aviation on the kind of operation side.

[Caller 1]

Okay. All right.

[Dave Ramsey]

Well, obviously you're going to have to get a career going forward.

[Rebecca]

I do have a job. I do. I did get another job, thankfully. 100.

[Dave Ramsey]

You're making 100.

[Caller 1]

Okay.

[Dave Ramsey]

So other than the time off in between that you did not benefit from, how long were you out of work?

[Rebecca]

A couple months. About three months. But this current job is not as stable as a company as my previous one, which makes me.

[Dave Ramsey]

So your point is, you've been damaged by this fraud financially, and so it would be ethical to receive something for that?

[Rebecca]

I don't know.

[Dave Ramsey]

I think that's right. I think, you know, it costs you a good job.

[Rebecca]

And my home that I had.

[Dave Ramsey]

Well, no, you own the home still.

[Rebecca]

Right.

[Dave Ramsey]

You'll get it back in May and you will have rented it. You will have made money on it during that time. So I don't mind tagging him for 100 grand or something. I just don't. I don't know how you've been harmed much more than 100 grand, unless you want to just be punitive, which honestly is probably okay. This guy kind of deserves it. But I'm kind of with you. I mean, I'm vacillating while I'm talking to you. If you hear me. So I'm not sure. This is weird. And you. As you know, so. And you're not the weird one, so. Yeah. Okay. I don't want to. I want to be made whole financially, plus a little. If I'm you. Past that. This is dirty money for me.

[Rebecca]

Right.

[Dave Ramsey]

I gotta. And I don't wanna live on this farm, this ranch that's got bad juju all over it. Right. If I'm you, I'm just. I'm just.

[Caller 2]

Yeah.

[Rebecca]

I don't.

[Dave Ramsey]

I'm trying to put myself in your shoes.

[Caller 2]

Yeah. Get me out of there.

[Rebecca]

Yeah.

[Dave Ramsey]

I don't wanna. I don't wanna walk away.

[Caller 2]

Legally, you're entitled to half a million. Legally, right? If her name's on the deed. Yeah.

[Dave Ramsey]

Nothing this twerk can do about it. He stepped in it.

[Caller 2]

But the question is, what do you. Right. From just, like, a moral perspective, and that's being made whole, plus a little bit more of what you're saying.

[Dave Ramsey]

I would. Do you have an ability to contact him? Yeah, I would have your attorney contact him and say, I will sign a deed to you for $200,000 or whatever the number is. And then I would go get an apartment and sell off the animals and get out of this. Get away from this whole thing.

[Caller 2]

And then go back to your house and go back to your house in May when the tenants move out.

[Dave Ramsey]

I would just get away from the whole thing. Anything that keeps me in this story is disturbing. I want to get it out of this story. It's a bad story.

[Rebecca]

Emotionally, that's probably the best.

[Dave Ramsey]

No, I mean, just generally, I think it's probably financially, because it's just. It's. It's. You're distracted by evil stuff.

[Caller 2]

Did y'.

[Rebecca]

All.

[Caller 2]

Did y' all date long term? Rebecca?

[Dave Ramsey]

For two years.

[Caller 2]

For two years. Long term.

[Dave Ramsey]

Long distance.

[Rebecca]

But it was a bit of a roller coaster. Long distance. And this was like the. Okay, he's going. He. He wants to commit. He wants to take the next step. He. He's ready.

[Caller 2]

Yeah. There's almost a level of, like, mourning this life that kind of whipped up really quickly for you. You know what I mean? Like, I mean, I know you guys were in a relationship for two years, but him moving, buying a ranch. You moved, you quit your job. I mean, you had a whirlwind within 90 days of this life that was ahead of you, and then it's gone as quickly as it came is what it feels like. So there's. Yeah, some whiplash. For sure.

[Dave Ramsey]

There's a whiplash penalty. I'm I'm willing that he should pay. I'm fine with that. And anything that he actually cost you, which is probably. Probably 100 grand, give or take, and then a whiplash penalty or whatever you want to put on it, and I'll sign the deed for that. It sounds like he's got money.

[Rebecca]

He's got a couple. A couple mil?

[Dave Ramsey]

Yeah. So he could write you a $200,000 check or whatever the number is you've got in mind, and you just sign the deed and we're done. Get the animals sold off so they're not hurt, because he's not going to come back and feed them. You got to make sure they're gone. Right. And so. And I would put this whole thing way in the rearview mirror if I. If you were. If you were my daughter. That's what I tell you to do.

[Caller 2]

Sucks. Sorry, Rebecca.

[Dave Ramsey]

That's awful. Create your free every dollar budget today. The simplest way to budget for your life.