Should I file for bankruptcy?

Question

I have been married for 6 years. When I was first married, my husband would use my ssn for his own personal usages. Such as, adult chat lines, and utilities... I was not working for the first three years, and in that time, he opened credit cards, fell delinquint on our utility bills, and never paid a single bill.

I am now 26 with two children, and I am tired of having to move every year because he won't even help to pay rent now that we are both working. He makes twice, if not three times what I make annually.

To sum up, my credit is a mess, I need to clean it up and I am not making much working my full time job... I would love to have a home one day in the next few years or so, but need help.

Should I file for bankruptcy?

(please, no comments about divorce. I am not looking for that type of advice)

Answer 1

You said not to use the "d" word....but....

Am I to understand that it's all up to you to correct your credit problems? You have to make the money to pay YOUR bills? He's not going to help or contribute in any way?

If that the situation I don't have any answer for you. Not without using the "d" work.

Bankruptcy will not help unless you both file, because your debts will most likely carry over to him (depends on exactly what debts these are). But no way is he going to escape this if you file BK.

So what you will have to do is sit down with hubby, COMBINE your incomes, set a budget and pay off your bills.

Yeah I know...if you regularly read my responses here I rarely give that advice. But you have little option here.

Answer 2

if your husband is a cardholder not just an authorized user) on your cards then he is legally responsible as well for those debts and any assests in your name regardless if his name is on them can be sought after by your creditors.

If he isn't willing to pay those debts and you cannot afford them you may not have any other choice. I would cancel all those cards to make sure he doesn't add to them and try to pay them off if you can or call them up as you are the cardholder and add his name to them, so it ruins his credit as well and then he has to deal with them.

I'd give considerable consideration to marriage consuling, as it is not just your credit that is being used. Seems he is willing to spoil your credit and good name, problems like these escalate and bankrupcy can just make it worse as you can still get credit at horrible terms, and when he maxes them out you cannot file bankrupcy again for 7-10 years depending on the type.

Answer 3

Nope...


How to Avoid Bankruptcy Explained
http://www.debt-explained.com/category/How-to-Avoid-Bankruptcy-Explained.html