Divorce Solutions

Nov 27, 2018

Question #239:Hi, I live in NYS. My wife and I have been married for 23 years and we started legal separation proceeding in the past month (Nov 14th). We use the same credit cards, checking account etc. If after Nov 14th she goes out and purchases items (computer, shoes), takes excessive money out of the bank account, may I responsible for 50% of these costs? These items are not needed for home etc.

If you have already commenced legal proceedings for separation in court, I strongly recommend that you terminate all joint accounts, be they bank accounts, credit accounts or any other accounts where you have financial exposure. Cancel all accounts upon which you are jointly liable. Divide up the monies in the bank accounts and checking accounts […]

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Oct 30, 2018

Question #168:My husband has asked for a divorce. After some significant damage to my credit due to my ex’s financial irresponsibility, I am seeking a legal separation until the divorce is final (which may be a while). I understand that the legal separation will not remove my name from accounts, but can I use the legal separation to prevent or remove missed payments and defaults from hurting my credit further? The large majority of our debt is my husband’s debt but some of it is in my name. If the legal separation stipulates he is responsible for the debt, regardless of whose name is on the account (credit cards mainly), can I still be held responsible for payments that he misses or makes late to accounts that are in my name? Will a legal separation do me any good? Is it worth paying the extra legal fees for the separation? Thank you for your help! [Continuation of previous Question] Thank you for the information, but I have just one more question for you. I understand that my name will not be removed from the loan and credit cards, and when my husband pays the payments late or not at all it will go on my credit unless I pay the payments myself. My question is can I take a legal document i.e. legal separation or divorce decree that states I am not responsible or liable for the debt to the credit bureaus and have the late or missed payments removed from my credit report? Is there any way to protect my credit without having to just pay for everything my self? I was told the only way to truly protect my credit is to pay off the debts myself and then sue my husband to be reimbursed the money. Is that true? Thank you for your time!!!

The first thing you should do is to terminate all mutual credit card and bank accounts that you have with your spouse, if you have not already done so. You are correct in seeking a legal separation and divorce in order to prevent any additional claims against you for the debts of your husband. Until […]

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Oct 30, 2018

Question #63: I have been married for 4 years in New York. 2 months ago my husband left me he is now living with his parents. I am curious about how you go about filing for a legal separation and then a Divorce. Also, I have student loans that were acquired before the marriage is he responsible for those payments? We also have a car loan and several credit cards that are primarily in my name with him as a cosigner. We have called the credit card companies to see if we can change the bill to his name and they will not do it. He has tried to get a loan in his name to consolidate these bills but they will not give it to him because of bad credit. What can I do so that I am not left with all of the debt? Also if I were to find out that he was with another woman that is adultery and how is that different from abandonment?

Any debts you incurred prior to the marriage are your individual debts; thus the student loans are your individual liability. If you are located in the NYC metropolitan area please call me at 212-370-1660 to discuss mediating your divorce. The issues you raise regarding outstanding liabilities and grounds for divorce can be resolved in mediation. […]

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