Debt Responsibility | Atlanta Divorce Laws

Who is Responsible for Debt?

In a divorce proceeding, debt is often a very big issue – who’s responsible for what debt. It’s often one of the most difficult issues to deal with, because first you have to figure out what the debt was, who incurred the debt, what the debt was incurred for? Was it incurred for a girlfriend? Was it incurred to raise the family? Who should actively be responsible for the debt?

Debt Liability Can Change

Once you’ve determined who should be responsible for what debt, it’s very important to remember that although the court can order one party to pay your debt, the court cannot order the party who owns that debt to not hold you responsible for liable. For example, if the court orders your husband to pay off your credit card, but your husband files for bankruptcy, you’re suddenly liable for that debt. It’s issues like that that we have to address in order to protect our clients, and make sure that the issue of debt is properly taken care of in divorce.

By: Scott Shaw