Your credit history and credit score are unique to you. They do not change when when you get divorced.
But your credit score can change in the wake of a divorce. For example, late payments, delinquency or default can affect your credit score. Closing credit card accounts or removing yourself as an authorized user can have an effect as well.
For example, if while the divorce is pending, there is not enough money to pay all the bills and all the unsecured debts (such as credit card debt), judges in Tarrant County would most likely order that living expenses, mortgage and child support be paid first. If there is not enough money to pay the minimum payments on the credit card debt, the judges would most likely say that those unsecured debts will not be paid.
After the divorce is final, one party will be awarded the marital residence and that party will be ordered to pay the mortgage on that residence. If you and your spouse signed the agreement to pay the mortgage on the house, you are still contractually obligated to that creditor for the balance of the mortgage. So if your ex spouse fails to pay the mortgage or pays it late, your credit score can be negatively impacted.
Here are some things that you can do before filing for divorce to head of any potential credit problems:
1. Establish credit individually. If you're about to file for divorce, it is a good idea to get a credit card account in your name only, before doing anything else.
2. Open the individual account before you close any existing accounts. Closing accounts might hurt your credit score enough to make it harder for you to qualify for a new account, and you don't want to be left with no access to credit.
3. Close any joint credit card accounts you have. You don't want to make it possible for a vindictive spouse to run up debt for which you will both be liable.
Comments
There are no comments for this post. Be the first and Add your Comment below.
Leave a Comment
Comments have been disabled.