ACCORDING to statistics, debt problems are one of the leading causes of divorce in this country. When couples have more debt than they can handle, stress and tension easily build up like a pressure cooker.
All too often, husbands and wives blame each other for their current situation and hurtful words are exchanged in the process. This leads into a lot of bitterness and emotional distress. Both husband and wife feel like a ticking time bomb just waiting to explode. Every conversation about money turns into a big argument. Does this sound familiar?
As a bankruptcy attorney, I’ve seen a lot of marriages destroyed by debt problems. If the situation is not resolved with a bankruptcy filing in order to obtain debt relief, divorce is the next inevitable step. In California (as in every community property state), the debts of one spouse are also the debts of the other spouse if acquired during marriage.
Hence, both spouses are often jointly liable to creditors. Some people just can’t accept this fact when I tell them this. They feel that their spouse caused all the problems and that they should not suffer the adverse consequences. Unfortunately, that is not how things work. There are exceptions to this “joint liability” rule and in certain cases (example: credit card debts where only one spouse is on the account), spouses are able to acquire debts solely in their name and the creditor doesn’t look to the other spouse for payments. If you are unsure about your situation, you should consult with a bankruptcy attorney to find out what your legal rights are.
When debt problems threaten the marriage, it amazes me to see how a lot of people are often more worried about saving their credit rather than saving their marriage! As I said, when couples fight over money, it is always easy to blame the other person. But I often tell clients who are in this situation that in a marriage where debts incurred have benefited both spouses, it will take two people to solve the problem. Instead of bickering endlessly, it is probably better to focus your time and energy on finding a solution that can be mutually beneficial. Wouldn’t you agree that this is the best approach in solving your joint debt problems and saving your marriage?
Of course, no one ever wants to talk about bankruptcy but believe me, in thousands of situations I’ve seen over the years, bankruptcy relief may be just what you need to solve your debt problems and fix your marriage before it’s beyond repair. This is a bitter pill to swallow for most people. But if you have exhausted all your options and have no other way out, why not find out what relief is available under the law and get the help right away?
Obtaining immediate relief from debt may give you the opportunity you need to work on your marriage and resolve your differences with your partner before things get really ugly. If you are in this situation at the moment, the sooner you take action, the sooner you will know what to do to restore peace in your home. This is what you want, isn’t it?
For an in-depth analysis of your situation by an attorney, you may want to schedule a free consultation by calling Toll-free 1-866-477-7772. I can see you at any of our offices in Glendale, Cerritos and Valencia.
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None of the information herein is intended to give legal advice for any specific situation. Atty. Ray Bulaon has successfully helped thousands of clients in getting out of debt. For a free attorney evaluation of your situation, please call Ray Bulaon Law Offices at TOLL FREE 1 (866) 477-7772.
