If my ex-husband refuses to pay on debts he agreed to in our divorce papers, what can be done to save my credit and get him to pay?
Get Legal Help Today
Compare Quotes From Top Companies and Save
Secured with SHA-256 Encryption
If my ex-husband refuses to pay on debts he agreed to in our divorce papers, what can be done to save my credit and get him to pay?
Asked on January 7, 2012 under Family Law, Missouri
Answers:
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 12 years ago | Contributor
There are two very different issues here:
1) How do you make him pay? You sue him. The divorce papers are either a contract (if it was a settlement) or court order (if it was a decree); either can be enforced by a legal action, though the mechanism or procedure for enforcing them varies somewhat. You are advised to retain an attorney to take action to enforce your rights vis-a-vis these debts, since the lawyer will know the process for doing so.
2) How do you save your credit? If the debts are in your name, then even if your ex-husband is obligated to pay them for you, it's still you who are obligated to the creditors. The only way to save your credit is make sure they're paid on time, including by paying yourself, then seeking rembursement from your ex-husband.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: The Answer(s) provided above are for general information only. The attorney providing the answer was not serving as the attorney for the person submitting the question or in any attorney-client relationship with such person. Laws may vary from state to state, and sometimes change. Tiny variations in the facts, or a fact not set forth in a question, often can change a legal outcome or an attorney's conclusion. Although AttorneyPages.com has verified the attorney was admitted to practice law in at least one jurisdiction, he or she may not be authorized to practice law in the jurisdiction referred to in the question, nor is he or she necessarily experienced in the area of the law involved. Unlike the information in the Answer(s) above, upon which you should NOT rely, for personal advice you can rely upon we suggest you retain an attorney to represent you.