Whether your ex has maxed out credit cards that are attached to your name or refuses to pay the bills that you shared while married, you may have a tough time moving forward. Your credit history can be severely damaged by a financially irresponsible ex, so what can you do to stop the madness and protect yourself?
Proactively Monitor Your Account Activity
It’s always a good idea to keep watch over accounts that bear your name, so make sure that you continue to receive bills (if you’ve moved from your marital home, call your creditors and make sure they have your new address).
If you’ve come to an agreement with your ex about joint debt, you’ll need to make sure that he or she is holding up the other end of the bargain. It’s extra work, but you may need to set up online access to the accounts attached to your name so that you can ensure your ex is paying the right amounts at the right times. If you see something indicating that your ex isn’t doing the right thing, bring it to your Scarborough divorce lawyer’s attention immediately.
Paying Off All Debt – Including Your Ex’s
While it’s an extreme step, some people simply want to close all of the accounts they hold with an ex; they end up paying off all joint debt in an effort to preserve their good credit and ensure that joint accounts won’t drag them down. In most cases, it’s difficult to come up with such a significant amount of money. If you think it’s a possibility in your case, talk to your Scarborough divorce lawyer and follow his or her advice.
Explaining the Situation to Creditors
Some creditors will work with you so that you and your ex can continue to pay separately – particularly if you have an order from the court stating that you’re only responsible for a certain percentage of the debt. In fact, you may be able to get creditors to remove your name from the accounts once your portion is paid in full. Asking creditors for help isn’t always an easy route, but it’s one that could pay off in the end.
