Mobile home debt

[xomanix]

I signed for someone to get a mobilehome. The reason I signed for this person is that she is an illegal immigrant. She stopped paying on it. Can I sue her in small claims court to recover the cost that the finance company wants to sue me for? The finance company then repossessed it and sold it, leaving a balance for me to pay. Can they put a lien on my home which is the only home I own? They said I would have to go to court to pay the balance and if I refuse to pay that they would put a lien on my home. Currently my house is only under my name, if I put the house under my husband's name only can they still put a lien on it? We are legally married.

[Mr. Knowitall]

I signed for someone to get a mobilehome. The reason I signed for this person is that she is an illegal immigrant. She stopped paying on it. Can I sue her in small claims court to recover the cost that the finance company wants to sue me for?

It's hard to say how a court would view your arrangement - whether as a landlord-tenant situation or as something else. Also, it is not clear that this person will be collectable, as an illegal immigrant who may well disappear from the jurisdiction. Beyond that, you can certainly try to sue for your losses.

The finance company then repossessed it and sold it, leaving a balance for me to pay. Can they put a lien on my home which is the only home I own?

Quite probably.

Currently my house is only under my name, if I put the house under my husband's name only can they still put a lien on it? We are legally married.

Yes, they can, although it might complicate things for them if they ultimately try to foreclose on the lien.