Divorce and debt

[PetraDelphiki]

Quick one for a friend who is getting divorced. Her stbxh ran up a load of debt during the marriage which she knew nothing about - is she liable for it?

I think it depends if the debt is in her name or joint names or not. Usually if there are assets involved, the debt will have to be repaid with the assets, so theoretically, she will lose out. Is your friend living in the marital home, and do the creditors have that address?

Not in her name (or if it is he faked her signature)...still in marital home with 2 dc

A loan company can only pursue the person whose debt the name is in. If during a divorce the person who has the debt can prove the debt was incurred for the benefit of the marriage, ie holidays, food etc, then they could both be jointly liable, but all depends on the court and how things are perceived.

There are two separate issues - as people say above those owed the money cannot come after her

However in deciding how assets are divided like equity in the house the mortgage and all assets of both are worked out and the net divided.

it is quite common too for a wife to have a hidden shopping addiction and find she owes say £20k. I think usually all these debts plus the mortgage are worked out and taken off the joint assets in working out what is split.