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Addressing marital debts when preparing to dissolve a marriage

On Behalf of | Jun 14, 2022 | Property Division |

Dissolving a marriage can be a stressful and complex process, and the decisions you make during this time could have a lingering impact on your life. While knowing some of the most vital topics to address could help place you in a better position to safeguard your future, things might not always be so easy. 

There is one topic that might not be uncommon to overlook when facing a similar life change, and that pertains to the role marital debts could play in your divorce. Understanding some essential factors to consider regarding marital debts may be integral to helping you prepare to protect your future interests. 

Debt topics 

Marital debts could play a significant role in the process of property division, and this may even include any debts accrued during separation. Some examples of factors to consider regarding martial debts and the role they might play in your divorce may include: 

  • Debt liability: Addressing liability for marital debts could prove integral, and even if your spouse agrees to responsibility for certain joint debts, you may still be legally liable, despite what your divorce decree states. 
  • Creditor rights: Should your former spouse fall behind on payments for joint debts, creditors may retain the right to reach out to you and seek payments. Caught off guard by collection calls can be harrowing in nature. 
  • Impact on credit: It may also be helpful to keep a constant watch over your credit score after a divorce, as this could help you identify and prepare to address potential risks to your financial future. 
  • Mortgage concerns: If you obtain ownership of assets, such as the family home during divorce, refinancing or obtaining a new mortgage might also be a necessary step to safeguarding your interests. 

Closing joint credit accounts could help protect against further harm. While paying off marital debts could help shield against the possible repercussions involved, this might not always be preferable, or even possible. 

A new chapter in life 

Marital debt may be just one example of a vital factor to address when facing the end of your marriage. Seeking guidance in covering every essential aspect involved with the process may help provide you with much-needed insight on how best to prepare a strategy for divorce proceedings that aligns with your interests and needs. Such a decision could help place you in a better position in which to safeguard your future as you prepare to enter a new chapter in your life in Alabama.