What to do about a default on joint debt after a divorce?
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What to do about a default on joint debt after a divorce?
I finalized my divorce 3 months ago. A joint account was giving to my ex husband to pay and the loan company has started calling me because he has not paid it. They are threatening with garnishing my wages. Can they do that if I am no longer responsible for paying it?
Asked on August 10, 2011 Illinois
Answers:
L.P., Member, Pennsylvania and New Jersey Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 12 years ago | Contributor
Joint accounts and joint debt can be very complicated during a separation, during a divorce, and even after a divorce is finalized. While you may have a reached an agreement with your ex that your previous joint account would be used to pay on a joint loan, the third party in which you took the loan from is not bound by your divorce agreement. You can go to the family court where you devised your divorce agreement and have your ex held in contempt since he is not abiding by the court’s order to follow the divorce agreement.
The third party can continue to attempt to collect a debt from you if you were previously on the loan because you are still on the loan, even though you are divorced. Additionally, you could file a claim in small claims court if you were to pay this loan to collect from your ex for him to re-pay you. Either way you will need the court to get involved to have your ex pay this loan if he will not do it on his own. However, the court will not be able to have a third party stop contacting you because they are not bound by your divorce agreement.
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