Are both husband and wife responsible for paying the household bills on a 50/50 basis ?

Question

If one party decides to stop paying their share what can be done? See a lawyer?

Answer 1

What is the whole point of this marriage.My husband and I work and all the money we make goes into ONE account and from there the money is automatically withdrawn for bills. The situation you discuss sounds more like a living arrangement than a marriage.

Answer 2

It depends on what you've arranged in your marriage. Some couples have two separate bank accounts with both responsible for certain bills. That works for some. Then there are types that have one bank account and both put money in the pot and pay together the bills. It's going to affect both your credit and the credit of the other if the bills don't get paid. It would seem to me that if your credit and your intregity is important to you that this would motivate you enough to get it paid. If one simply refuses, but is able to pay, somehow it needs to get resolved. If it can't, then you might consider if this is damaging enough to consider separation. You can't force the other to pay, yet you have to be fair to yourself as well. Seeing a lawyer for this might not do much, except if you are considering divorce. It's a tough call, but first seek out the root of problem...like why is your spouse not paying. Maybe it can be resolved. You never know what you might uncover. Good luck.

Answer 3

That depends on the dynamic of the relationship. Are both spouses working? Who makes the majority of the money ? If only one spouse works then obviously that is ultimately who is responsible for the bills.
Now if both works then if one makes more than the other they should divvy up the bills in proportion to tho the amount they bring in. So each of them contribute X% of their pay to household bills that way it stay "equal". If they make the same then 50/50 is a fair split. Of course if they are both paying bills then they should also share household chores and the rest to ensure no one feels as if they are doing too much.

Answer 4

If your talking lawyer might be tell to a divorce.. In many households are different. My household my husband pays for it all, WHY? because I don't work. It not that I am unable too. WE have no car and no babysitter during the day and daycare too expensive!

The real question who makes the more money. One pay rent or mortgage. The other pay the utilities

Answer 5

A marriage license isn't a legal contract with each other like a car loan. When you get married it isn't my money - his money anymore, it all becomes our money. If it isn't then you are just roommates not husband and wife. That's the trouble with marriage today. How can you say you want to share a life together as a union of two hearts when you don't consider your material things as belonging to you both as a couple(that includes both of your paychecks)? That type of attitude will land you in divorce long before the memory of your honeymoon grows cold. Think about it and re-evaluate what marriage is supposed to be.

Answer 6

It depends on the particular situation. But if the partner that's not doing their fair share is completely healthy and able to work, then you become their "parent" and are taking care of them as you would a child. That means they should obey your every command, whatever it is. Tell them that if they don't start earning income, they have 6 months to find a new place to live. That doesn't mean you want a divorce, just separate living spaces. It's an ultimatum that your spouse will have to deal with!

Answer 7

Unless there is a prenuptial agreement stating how the household bills will be paid it is at the discretion of each party how much they contribute. Unless you want a divorce there is very little a lawyer can do.

Answer 8

We put about 50/50. My question is - what is he/she doing with the earnings? If you suspect that the money is being spent with a lover, pursue that information as you will need it in divorce court. If the other person is just hording or spending carelessly, consider moving out to a place you can afford on your own. Also, if you have credit cards, get your name off the accounts. You don't need dead weight.

Answer 9

My question would be why did he/she decide to stop paying their share. I'm not sure about this because in my house there is one bank account tha we both have acess to. Ask them why they stopped paying their share and then go from there. Maybe they don't make as much as you and can't afford to pay half.

Answer 10

Well, it depends who makes more. Whoever makes more would be responsible to pay more then the one that makes less. That's how it's seen for divorces, unless there's already an agreed on plan.