My wife continues to spend money we do not have in spite of what i show and tell her. I continue to find that she opens more and more charge cards, takes money from accounts etc. I love her but is there any way to legally separate our finances without breaking up the marriage?
2007-09-10 14:53:18 · 6 answers · asked by MICHAEL K 1 in Business & Finance ➔ Personal Finance
Yes..you can open things in your name and put notes on the account that you only have access. You could go as far as drawing up a small contract that her debt is her debt and have your wife sign it and have it notarized. Talk to a lawyer to be sure but its a touchy subject. If you do get a real divorce, you can be straddled with her debt also. be careful and cover your butt.
2007-09-18 11:56:30 · answer #1 · answered by Pepper 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not really unless you had a prenuptual agreement. If you live in a joint community property state (Arizona, California, Idaho, Louisiana, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, Washington, and Wisconsin) you're really screwed because a joint-community property state really means that if you're married you're both legally responsible for debt (amoungst other things) even if only one of you is on the debt.
Best suggestion if you haven't tried already is to set-up different accounts and limit the amount of liquid funds your wife has access to spend. As far as new credit she's obtaining, I don't think there's much you can do other than wait for her to get to a point where she states getting denied for loans.
Maybe marriage counceling would help because the #1 reason for divorce in this county is due to financial trouble. Good luck
2007-09-10 22:02:50 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Publish a notice in the local paper ,
" As of today's date , I john doe , will no longer be responsible for debts incurred by my spouse , jane doe ".
Also , notify the big 3 that you will no longer permit joint accounts and you want your name removed from any of the existing .
If they have balances , you may be required to pay the existing .
You must have separate checking accounts ,
And if she is spending the mortgage on shoes ,
She must have the plugged pulled on the day to day accounts as well .
You may need to go to court and have it made official and perhaps mandate counseling for her .
Have her sign a quit claim deed for the house title .
Also , consult a CPA or attorney about how to protect your home from liens generated by her debt .
(although California law now separates spouses as far as credit card liability , a home refi may require payment on hers to refi the note )
Shop- O -holics are like alcoholics ,
There is no reason because of the disorder .
You just must take the necessary steps to protect your assets .
>
2007-09-10 22:05:26 · answer #3 · answered by kate 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You need to consult a qualified attorney on this one, not strangers on the internet. I will say you can take several steps like getting your name off the joint cards and other things one by one, but your going to need professional help. You could also call a credit counseling service for free and ask them how to do all this.
People loose marriages over these kinds of issues. Insist she go into counselling with you over her compulsive spending. We do it to give ourselves an upper, a mood elevation when other things in life are making us sad or we feel like we are lacking. Anyway get some real help buddy.
Best of luck to you!
2007-09-10 22:03:49 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
separating finances isn't the answer.
you need marriage counseling.
#1 reason for divorce in the USA? Money fights, debt.
2007-09-10 22:02:41 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
start another account in your name and tell her when the account she is withdrawing from is gone . she gets no more in it unless she puts it in.
2007-09-10 22:00:01 · answer #6 · answered by morningstar6707 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋