How Can My Credit Be Hurt by My Divorce?

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credit and divorce

What many couples may not realize is that they may still be financially tied to their spouse even after the finalization of their divorce. That is, you and your spouse must put in the work to ensure that your financial obligations are covered. If you do not take the proper steps towards this, your credit may be hurt as a result. Continue reading to learn how you can prevent your credit from being hurt by your divorce and how one of the experienced attorneys at our Suffolk County divorce law firm, the Law Offices of Susan A. Kassel, P.C., can assist you in doing so.

Can my credit be hurt by my divorce?

Say, for instance, that you and your spouse co-signed a credit card at one point in your marriage. If you ultimately decide on a divorce, you will still be legally obligated to cover the debts incurred on this card. This is unless you take the proper steps toward correcting this. Such steps are listed below:

  1. Identify all the debts that you and your spouse incurred in your marriage (i.e., mortgage, credit card debts, student loan debts, personal loan debts, medical bills, etc).
  2. Determine the amount owed for each account, the name(s) on each account, and any past-due payments.
  3. Weigh the possibility of paying off these joint accounts together. If not a viable option, then create individual accounts and assign the debts accordingly.

You must understand that your divorce decree will not appear on your credit report, so your new situation will not matter to your lenders and card issuers. With this, it may be in your best interest to negotiate with lenders for a modified payment plan until you get back on track.

How can I prevent my credit from being hurt by my divorce?

While this is rare, there are instances in which a spouse will attempt to intentionally hurt the other’s credit after their divorce is finalized. So, it best serves you to take preventative measures to prevent your credit from being ruined. Such measures include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Open an individual checking account in your own name so to deposit your paychecks into this account.
  • Apply for a low-limit credit card so to gradually build your own credit.
  • Change your PINs on your debit cards and the passwords on all your bank accounts so to prevent your spouse from accessing them.
  • Select more challenging security questions for your bank accounts so to prevent your spouse from accessing them.
  • Update your billing address so to prevent your spouse from accessing information from your creditors and financial institutions.

We understand your desire to become financially independent in the aftermath of your divorce. For help with making this possible, do not hesitate in reaching out to a skilled Suffolk County divorce & separation attorney today.

CONTACT OUR FIRM

If you need strong legal representation regarding matters of divorce, family law, and estate law, contact the Law Offices of Susan A. Kassel, P.C. to schedule a consultation today.

Why choose our firm?

We have an excellent AVVO rating from our many happy clients

We will tirelessly pursue a favorable resolution to your case

We offer aggressive and effective representation

We treat our clients with the compassion, patience, and respect that they deserve

We have more than 20 years of dedicated legal experience

We have the legal knowledge necessary to help you obtain the outcome you desire

We tailor our practice to the representation of your divorce case

What Our Clients Are Saying

I hired Susan to represent me in a divorce matter where I was fighting for custody and to limit my wife's equitable share of our assets. I won custody of our son, kept the marital residence, kept my professional practice, kept my building and paid less than half to my wife. This was after a long-term marriage. She could persuade the court that equitable is not equal and sometimes the man does deserve to win!

‐ Dave

I first must say that I had been represented by two prior attorneys both of whom had simply taken my money and left me nothing to show for it in my custody case. They kept telling me what they were doing for me but I found out they were lying. Susan on the other hand had gotten me temporary custody and support for my children and myself within two months of hiring her. I cannot say enough about her.

‐ Craig

After talking to a few other attorneys, I hired Susan to represent me in my divorce and custody dispute. I was reluctant to go with her because she was the cheapest out of all the other attorneys I met with, but I'm so glad I did. I am 100% positive no one else would have done such a great job with my case as Susan and her staff. Her work is quality, her staff is reliable and her character is honorable. There...

‐ Linda

I had a very difficult case where I had already burned through two attorneys who were unable to get me custody of my children and complete my divorce. Susan was able to rapidly work out an agreement and not let it just malinger on like my previous experiences. She was also considerate of my financial situation unlike all of the other lawyers I had spoken to. I highly recommend her if you want complete and caring service with an in-depth knowledge of...

‐ Joanne

SERVING ALL OF SUFFOLK COUNTY

The Law Offices of Susan A. Kassel, P.C. proudly serves clients throughout Suffolk County, New York in their divorce, family law, and estate planning matters. If you require the services of an experienced Suffolk County attorney, schedule a consultation with The Law Offices of Susan A. Kassel, P.C. today.

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