How doI get a bad debt of my ex-wife off of my credit report?
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How doI get a bad debt of my ex-wife off of my credit report?
I want to buy a home and but there’s a $20,000 debt showing up on my credit report (all3 bureaus). However it’s my ex-wife’s car debt. from a few years ago. We did jointly sign for it in 2004 but divorced in 2005; then it was repossessed 1 year later. Wouldn’t this debt be her debt? Can I just dispute this and get it off my credit so I can prove that I have enough credit to buy a home?
Asked on March 11, 2011 under Bankruptcy Law, Texas
Answers:
M.D., Member, California and New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 13 years ago | Contributor
What happened in your divorce does not effect outside parties. Therefore, if your wife was responsible for the car loan and did not make the payments, you can sue her for any reimbursement for any of your out-of-pocket costs as a result (if any). However your joint creditor can take action against the both of you. Accordingly, since you also signed for the loan, married or not, you are still legally responsible for it. If payments were not made and the loan went into default, it is perfectly proper for your creditor to report this to the credit bureaus. Bottom line, there really isn't any way to get this off of your report. However, each credit reporting agency allows for an individual to make notations on their report as to any negative credit action taken against them. In other words, you are given the opportunity to explain extenuating circumstances which will appear on your report next to any negative notations.
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