Am I Liable for My Partner/ Ex-Partners Debt?

Am I liable for my partner ex-partners debt? It’s something many people ask when they decide to separate. It’s all too easy to get into debt especially these days with the cost of living being so high.

If you’re worried you could be forced to pay a partner/ex-partner’s debts, this post is for you. I explain the reason why you won’t be liable and the reasons why you could be!

What happens to debts when you separate?

A divorce or separation is often a stressful time for all concerned. What’s more, it could mean your financial circumstances are affected too. Especially when you hold joint bank accounts, loans and other financial agreements you entered into jointly.

It basically means you have joint liability so if your partner or ex-partner defaults on a debt, you’d be liable. You may even have to repay the full debt!

If you’re struggling with your finances following a separation or divorce, you should prioritise paying for essential things. Then focus on whatever debts need sorting out.

Do you have to pay?

There are ways to have debt written off in the UK.

If you genuinely can’t afford your debt repayments then looking into whether you could have your payments lowered or written off might be just what you need. 

If you want to find out whether you qualify for having debt written off or payments lowered then fill out the short form below.

Are you liable for your ex-partner’s debt?

As mentioned, if you have joint debts with your ex, you’re typically both liable to repay the full amount. In short, if your ex-partner won’t or can’t pay their share, the lender could ask you to make the payments!

That said, some debts are tied to one person alone and if it’s your ex’s debt, you won’t be liable at all.

So, in short, you should find out what debts you have and if any of them fall under ‘joint liability’.

Check out what one person posted on a popular online forum about an ex-partner’s debt and whether they are liable:

Source: Moneysavingexpert

What debts are typically shared?

There are various debts which could fall under joint liability. It means both you and your ex-partner are responsible for repaying the full amount. Many people think they are only ‘liable’ for their share of the debt which is not the case!

If one person defaults on a debt, the liability falls on the other person. It’s referred to as ‘joint and several liabilities’.

I’ve listed the type of debts that typically fall into this category below:

• Tenancy agreements and mortgages were taken out jointly
• Bank accounts
• Overdrafts
• Bills that have both you and your partner’s names on them
• Catalogue debts for accounts opened jointly

There are exceptions though. For instance, you could be liable for a council tax bill even if the account was in your ex-partner’s name. This would apply if you were living at the address with your ex over a period of time.

Can you lower your repayments?

If you’re struggling to pay back your debt, then you might qualify for a debt solution.

Some solutions lower your monthly payments while others write off a portion of your debt. 

To find out whether they could work in your situation, hit the button below.

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What debts are not shared?

Any debt that’s solely in one person’s name isn’t ‘shared’ provided the other person didn’t act as guarantor.

If your ex-partner has credit cards in their name, you won’t be liable for any debts they ran up on their accounts.

On the other hand, if your ex-partner added you as an additional cardholder, you won’t be liable for the outstanding on the account. Conversely, if you added your ex-partner to your credit card as an additional cardholder, you’d be liable for the debt!

What happens when we are married and divorced?

Being married to someone doesn’t automatically mean you are liable for an ex’s debt when you separate or divorce.

However, your assets and debts could be divided between you when you divorce. It’s also worth noting that if you took out joint credit cards, the financial link for say a mortgage or loan shows up on your credit report.

How do I disassociate my ex financially?

Disassociating financially from an ex-partner isn’t complicated. You can have them removed from your report by contacting the credit reference agencies. They will manually remove all financial links you had with your ex-partner.

What can you do if your ex owes you money?

If your ex-partner owes you any money, the first thing to do is contact a mediation service to try and resolve things. It’s a more cost-effective way to sort things out than taking out court action.

If mediation fails, you can then decide whether to start court proceedings against your ex. But you should bear in mind that you’d need to prove that your ex-partner agreed to pay you back!

What’s the best way to deal with shared debt?

When you separate or divorce and have shared debts with your partner, you could:

• Discuss the situation with your ex with the end goal being to agree amicably on how to deal with the debts. If you agree to an informal solution, it means the debts are split between you both. You must let the creditors know which of you is accepting liability for the debt
• Contact your creditors if your ex doesn’t agree to an informal solution or is being awkward. You’d be liable for the debt if creditors aren’t able to contact your ex-partner

What debt help is there in the UK?

Luckily, many of the UK’s leading charities provide free debt advice to people who struggle with their finances.

I’ve included links to three of the main charities in the table below:

The advice you receive could help you get out of debt so that you can get your life and your finances back on track!

Are debt collectors chasing you for money?

If so, my other posts could help you decide how to deal with the debt collectors when they contact you:

• Do I pay PRA Group Ltd or not?
• Should you pay Lowell Portfolio or not?
• Do you have to pay Cabot debt collection?

 Thanks for taking the time to read my post. I hope you found the information helpful in answering the question ‘Am I liable for my ex-partner’s debt’?

“It will only get worse” 😩

It’s cliché to say, but with debt it’s true; the longer you leave it, the worse the problem gets. 

There are straightforward and effective ways to deal with debt, but you have to know your options. 

Fill out the short form to find out about the debt solutions that could reduce your monthly payments or even write off some of your debt.

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