Jane and her former husband, Garrett, recently divorced. Their divorce decree stated that Garrett would pay the balances on their two joint credit card accounts. Quite a few months later, after Garrett had neglected to pay off these accounts, the two creditors got in touch with Jane, asking for payment. She referred them to the divorce decree, insisting that she wasn’t responsible for the accounts. The creditors then correctly stated that they were not parties to the decree and that Jane was still legally responsible for paying off the couple’s joint accounts. Jane later was surprised to find out that the late payments appeared on her credit report and negatively affected her.
This situation is not uncommon, unfortunately. If you don’t understand the complex nuances surrounding divorce, including how your credit can be affected, you could find yourself in this position. This is why it’s so important to work with a Family Law attorney who is experienced in the laws specific to the state you live in, so they can guide you through situations and help you avoid common pitfalls.
Depending on the type of account you and your spouse have incurred debt under, (joint or individual) the legal responsibility could be on both spouses to pay off the debt, or just one spouse.
As you go through a divorce, your Family Law attorney will go through your assets and debt with you to ensure you understand where the responsibilities will fall. We’re here to make this difficult time in your life seem less complicated. We’re here to provide legal care and support to you, so you don’t have to worry about unexpected and unpleasant surprises.
To schedule your appointment with one of our Family Law attorneys, please give us a call at 435-752-2610.
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