Hi, I am currently living with a partner who suffered a repossession last year and owes £30,000. If he attains his divorce shortly will the subsequent shortfall then become my debt should we marry and any income I earn will be liable to pay off the debt? can anyone help please. Cheers suzanne

-- suzanne glanville (suzanne.glanville@btopenworld.com), December 31, 2002

Answers

Suzanne,

I do not believe that by marrying your partner his debt would become your debt, or that you would be liable for any part of it, this would be absurd to my mind. However, I believe a joint mortgage could pose a problem in the future, or even perhaps a joint account. I am not a legal professional so I would advise you to check this out with a solicitor (you can also try www.debtquestions.co.uk,or CAB, NAMV). Has your partner put the building society to strict proof regarding the shortfall? Was the property sold for a fair price for example? Hope this helps. Good Luck.

Mark.

-- M Amos (idgroms@hotmail.com), January 02, 2003.

Hi Suzanne,

I am in the same position as you with my fiance, he is being chased for £38000. I have kept everything in my name, I own the house, the car and he owns none of it. A joint account should be OK but just don't keep too much money in it, I keep ours overdrawn. Using this site my fiance has gone from being hounded daily to a gap of 6 months and more between letters now. You are not responsible for any of the debt, however when you marry I know the law does change in respect of what your husband/wife is entitled to so we are waiting until the 12 years has elapsed which is a good few months before we do marry. Get your partner to follow the advice on this site and put the bank/bsoc to strict proof of the debt. Good luck.

-- Chris (chris@anon.co.uk), January 03, 2003.