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Photo of attorneys Shelley Slafkes and Bruce Levitt
Photo of attorneys Shelley Slafkes and Bruce Levitt

Should My Fiancé File Bankruptcy Before We Get Married

On Behalf of | Jan 30, 2025 | Bankruptcy Basics

CONTACT LEVITT & SLAFKES BEFORE YOU GET MARRIED TO DISCUSS BANKRUPTCY

You’ve found the one. You’ve planned the wedding. You’re ready to walk down that aisle, but you want to know, when your officiant asks, “if you take this person to be your spouse, for richer or for poorer,” what are you agreeing to?

If your soon-to-be spouse is coming into the marriage with significant debt, you may be wondering whether you are also marrying their debt. Thankfully, in most instances
the answer is no.

Spouses do not assume each other’s credit score, nor do they assume liability for the premarital debts that are not in their name. Nevertheless, spouses will be liable for debts they take on together after the marriage. More importantly, if spouses are sharing a household, they may feel the stress of this debt and the drain on their finances as they help pay their spouse’s debt, even if they are not legally obligated to do so.

While you do not assume your spouse’s credit score, that they have a low score and significant debt can dictate your ability to buy a house together or make big purchases together in the future.

For this reason, if your soon to be spouse has significant debt, consider scheduling a free consultation with the attorneys of Levitt & Slafkes, P.C. before you say “I do.” Our attorneys can help advise you and your partner as to whether bankruptcy or other measures could help improve your financial situation. In some cases, filing for bankruptcy before getting married can have big benefits. By filing and getting a discharge before you get married, you and your partner can start married life with a fresh financial start. Since money and debt are some of the primary reasons couples fight and even divorce, it is important to know where your future spouse stands on these issues.

Further, if your partner is in significant debt, it is likely that their credit score is low to begin with and filing for bankruptcy may not have an impact on their score. By filing before marriage, they can start the process of rebuilding credit and come into the marriage without the baggage and stress of debt.

Contact Levitt & Slafkes Before You Get Married to Discuss Bankruptcy

If you or your fiancé has significant debt, contact Levitt and Slafkes for a free consultation to determine if bankruptcy is right for you.

Our office number is 973-323-2953 or you can reach us online.

We are proudly designated as a debt relief agency by an Act of Congress. We have proudly assisted consumers in filing for Bankruptcy Relief for over 30 years. The information in this blog is for general information purposes only. Nothing should be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation.

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