Yes — in Kansas you can often get credit or reimbursement for mortgage payments, property taxes, insurance, HOA dues, and other carrying costs you paid while a property was owned jointly or during a marriage. Whether and how much you recover depends on who holds title, any written agreements, whether the sale happens during divorce or a partition action, and the facts a court would consider. Courts typically allow an accounting so that the sale proceeds are divided fairly after recognizing contributions and liabilities.

Detailed answer — how Kansas law treats carrying-cost contributions

1. Who owns the property matters

If the deed names joint owners, the starting point is the ownership shares on the deed. In many cases, owners split proceeds according to those shares unless the parties agree otherwise or a court orders an accounting that adjusts shares based on payments and contributions.

2. Co-owners (non-married): partition and accounting

When co-owners cannot agree, one owner can bring a partition action asking the court to sell the property and divide proceeds. In a partition action Kansas courts perform an accounting: they pay off liens (including mortgages) and then consider equitable credits and debits before final distribution. That means payments made by one co-owner for mortgage, property taxes, insurance, repairs, and other carrying costs can often be credited against that owner’s share of the net proceeds.

For text of the statutes that govern civil actions (including partition procedures and remedies), see the Kansas Statutes (Chapter 60): https://www.ksrevisor.org/statutes/chapters/ch60/. Courts also rely on case law and equitable accounting principles in partition and related disputes.

3. Married couples (divorce or separation)

When the property is marital or community property in a divorce, Kansas courts divide marital property equitably. The family court will examine contributions by each spouse — including mortgage payments, taxes, insurance, maintenance, and improvements — and may award credits or adjust the division to achieve an equitable result. If one spouse used separate funds to pay carrying costs, that spouse may assert a claim for reimbursement or a lien, depending on the circumstances.

For resources on family law statutes and procedures, review the applicable Kansas statutes and guidance available through the Kansas statutory resources: https://www.ksrevisor.org/statutes/.

4. Written agreements control

If owners signed an agreement (co-ownership agreement, loan agreement, or a recorded deed with special language) describing how carrying costs are handled or how sale proceeds are allocated, a court will generally enforce that contract. Always check for recorded documents and any written promises before assuming an automatic credit.

5. Lenders and liens get paid first

At sale, mortgage lenders, tax liens, and other recorded liens are paid from sale proceeds before owners split the remainder. If you personally paid down a mortgage but the loan remained in co-owner’s name, you might be entitled to reimbursement, but the lender’s payoff is still a priority.

6. Practical remedies if you paid more than your share

• Negotiate an offset or a credit in the settlement agreement.
• Ask for an accounting in a partition action or assert a claim in divorce proceedings.
• Seek equitable relief (reimbursement, lien, or contribution) if one owner was unjustly enriched by your payments.

7. Timing and risks

Keep in mind statutes of limitation and the need to act promptly. If you accept proceeds without reservation or sign a release, you can lose the right to later claim credits. If possible, preserve written records and raise any claim before final distribution.

How a court or settlement typically calculates credits (example)

Below is a simplified hypothetical to illustrate how credits often work. Imagine two co-owners with equal title share (50/50):

1. Sale price: $300,000
2. Payoff of mortgage and liens at closing: $180,000
3. Closing costs and real estate commissions: $18,000
4. Net proceeds available to owners: $102,000 ($300,000 – $180,000 – $18,000)
5. Owner A paid $9,000 in mortgage, taxes, and insurance during ownership; Owner B paid $3,000.

Simple equal-split without credits: each owner would get $51,000. With an accounting, the court might subtract net carrying-cost imbalance ($9,000 – $3,000 = $6,000) and give Owner A an additional $3,000 and reduce Owner B by $3,000, or it may treat the $6,000 as an enforceable lien or reimbursement and adjust distribution accordingly. The exact method varies by case and court discretion.

Important: courts also consider who benefited from the payments (e.g., payments that preserved or improved value) and whether payments were made with separate funds or under agreement.

Helpful Hints — what to do next

• Preserve all records: mortgage statements, canceled checks, bank transfers, tax receipts, insurance bills, HOA invoices, and repair receipts.
• Check title and deeds to confirm ownership percentages and any recorded agreements.
• Ask the other owner(s) for an accounting before sale or distribution.
• Do not sign a release or final settlement until you understand and agree with the accounting.
• If you are divorcing, raise the issue early with your family law attorney or the court in property division negotiations.
• If co-owners cannot agree, consider a partition action where a court can order sale and make an equitable accounting.
• Talk to an attorney who handles Kansas real estate, partition, or family law so you get advice tailored to your facts.