When you marry someone does their debt become yours?

Do You Inherit Debt When You Get Married? No. Even in community property states, debts incurred before the marriage remain the sole responsibility of the individual. So if your spouse is still paying off student loans, for instance, you shouldn't worry that you'll become liable for their debt after you get married.
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Can they come after me for my spouse's debt?

Usually, a person is responsible only for his or her own debts. So if you did not sign the contract or loan agreement for your spouse's debt, you usually would not have to pay that debt. However, if both you and your spouse signed for the debt, then the creditor can usually come after either of you to get payment.
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Should you marry someone who is in debt?

If you're thinking about marrying someone with a significant amount of student loan debt, it's important that you sit down and talk about their debt before you do so. Make sure that your future spouse has a clear plan for how they intend to pay off their debt.
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Can you inherit debt through marriage?

In most cases, an individual's debt isn't inherited by their spouse or family members. Instead, the deceased person's estate will typically settle their outstanding debts. In other words, the assets they held at the time of their death will go toward paying off what they owed when they passed.
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Is my wife responsible for my debt?

The bottom line. You are generally not responsible for your spouse's credit card debt unless you are a co-signor for the card or it is a joint account. However, state laws vary and divorce or the death of your spouse could also impact your liability for this debt.
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Is Debt Shared If You Get Married? (Explained)



How do I protect myself financially from my spouse?

A financial advisor can help.
  1. Be Honest With Yourself About Their Financial Tendencies Before Marriage.
  2. Have a Heart-to-Heart With Your Spouse as Soon as Possible.
  3. Take Over Paying the Bills Yourself.
  4. Seek Financial Help and Counseling.
  5. Protect Yourself and Your Own Finances.
  6. Bottom Line.
  7. Financial Planning Tips.
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What do I do if my fiance has debt?

Below, we break down each step so that you can be ready to manage any debt that comes in you and your partner's way.
  1. Step 1: Communicate. Communication is key to any sort of relationship, whether it be with a family member, friend or spouse. ...
  2. Step 2: Find solutions. ...
  3. Step 3: Budget together. ...
  4. Step 4: Help each other's credit.
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Is my wife entitled to half my savings?

If you decide to get a divorce from your spouse, you can claim up to half of their 401(k) savings. Similarly, your spouse can also get half of your 401(k) savings if you divorce. Usually, you can get half of your spouse's 401(k) assets regardless of the duration of your marriage.
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Does my wife's credit affect mine?

Marrying a person with a bad credit history won't affect your own credit record. You and your spouse will continue to have separate credit reports after you marry. However, any debts that you take on jointly will be reported on both your and your spouse's credit reports.
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What can I do if my husband refuses to pay bills?

What to Do if My Husband Won't Pay His Debts
  1. Determine if your Creditors View His Debt as Your Debt, Too. Find out if you live in a community property state or a common law state. ...
  2. Separate Your Money. Consider setting up a separate bank account. ...
  3. Separate Your Credit. ...
  4. Seek Help.
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Do I have to pay bills when I separate from my wife?

Just like mortgages, the repayment of any joint debts must continue after divorce or separation. Your personal life is of no concern to lenders after all. But of course, you now wish to lead separate lives and an important step toward doing so will be disentangling your finances.
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How should finances be handled in a marriage?

Key Takeaways
  • Honesty about money is essential for trust in a marriage.
  • Couples can manage their money with separate accounts, a joint account, or some combination of the two.
  • Separate accounts help avoid arguments but take more planning, and you may lose out on the best way to manage your family money.
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Should a wife pay bills?

A married couple should combine their income and expenses and pay all bills from the combined total of both incomes. While it's totally OK if 1 spouse earns more than another, it's not OK for 1 spouse to not contribute financially if they have a job and earn an income.
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Should marriages be 50 50 financially?

“It's important to find a balance between how much each spouse spends and how much they contribute to the household. If their income levels are very different, it is typically not realistic to expect a 50/50 split when it comes to bills.”
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Should a wife be financially independent?

Sadly, women and financial independence don't always go hand in hand but there's no need for this. Women are just as capable of reaching financial independence as men are. Marriage is no excuse to not become a financially independent woman. Getting married doesn't mean you're no longer your own person.
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What is a financial bully?

Financial bullying occurs in a committed relationship when one partner uses his or her power or influence to control the other financially. Financial bullies use tactics such as: Making his or her partner feel guilty about purchases. Limiting monthly spending. Making his or her partner show receipts for all purchases.
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Who controls the finances in a marriage?

In a marriage, it's common for one partner to handle budgeting and bill paying and another to handle all the investments, or for one partner to do all the financial tasks.
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How do bills split in a relationship?

The 50/50 method and the income-based method are ways to split expenses with your partner. For some couples, drawing a line down the middle of their expenses and having each person contribute 50% is what works. This expense-sharing method is no bones about it and is straightforward.
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What is financial infidelity in a marriage?

Financial infidelity occurs when couples with combined finances lie to each other about money. For example, one partner may hide significant debts in a separate account while the other partner is unaware.
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Why moving out is the biggest mistake in a divorce?

You Can Damage Your Child Custody Claim

One of the most significant ways moving out can influence your divorce is when it comes to child custody. If you move out, it means you don't spend as much time with your kids. Not only can this harm your relationship, but it can also damage your custody claim.
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Am I responsible for my husband's debt if we are separated?

The general rule in California is that a spouse ceases to be responsible for any debts incurred by the other spouse once they have separated.
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Can my ex wife claim money after divorce?

Money you earn after your divorce is generally yours, but your ex-wife can still get her hands on it in some cases. You might realize that every dollar you earn during marriage is only half yours, but you may not be as sure about the money you earn after you and your wife split.
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Does my wife's credit affect my credit?

If your spouse has a bad credit score, it will not affect your credit score. However, when you apply for loans together, like mortgages, lenders will look at both your scores. If one of you has a poor credit score, it counts against you both.
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Will changing my name clear my debts?

Unfortunately for anyone who's hoping for a do-over, changing your name doesn't reset a poor credit score or wipe out your existing credit report to let you start anew. Your new name simply gets added to your existing credit report.
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What changes after you get married?

One of the most important legal changes that occurs when you get married is the acquisition of “marital property”. Whether it is a house, boat, car, television, or just a coffee mug, any asset that is acquired by either spouse during the marriage may treated as a marital property in a divorce.
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