Will Your Spouse Be Affected by Your Bankruptcy

If you are filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy you might be concerned as to whether your spouse will also be affected by your decision.

In short the answer is no but only if they did not sign any documents such as a contract or agreement that makes them responsible for a portion of your debt. However if they do have a supplemental credit card they might be responsible for that portion of the debt.

If you live in a community property state then the spouse that files for bankruptcy does not need the signature of their spouse to apply. These states are: Idaho, Nevada, Arizona, Louisiana, Washington, New Mexico, Texas and Wisconsin. On daily expenses like credit cards both spouses will not be required to sign the bankruptcy papers. However, on larger items like the sale or purchase of real estate, both signatures will be required.

If you are considering Chapter 7 bankruptcy as an option for your declining finances, contact a Chicago bankruptcy lawyer now who can start working on your case.