If my spouse had unpaid medical bills from before we married, can I now be held responsible?

Full question:

If my spouse had unpaid medical bills from well before we met or married, can I now be held responsible and can my wages be garnished?

Answer:

Generally, a spouse is not liable for the debts of the other as long as it is an individual account, the spouse running up the debt is not an authorized user, surety, guarantor, or cosignor, and the couple does not live in a community property state. However, even in a community property state the assets of the spouse not running up the debt could be at risk. For example, in cases involving, among others, bankruptcy, divorce, or other litigation, creditors may go after assets held jointly by the debtor and non-debtor spouse, such as a bank account in both their names. If your spouse agrees to pay off a joint credit card debt but does not, the bank may successfully sue you for that debt. However, state laws vary about which marriage partner is responsible for certain debts, depending upon when the debt was incurred, the identity of the debtor, or the purpose of the debt.

This content is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Legal statutes mentioned reflect the law at the time the content was written and may no longer be current. Always verify the latest version of the law before relying on it.

FAQs

Yes, wages can be garnished for unpaid medical bills if a creditor obtains a court judgment against you. Once they have a judgment, they can seek to garnish your wages to collect the debt. The amount that can be garnished varies by state, but federal law limits garnishment to 25% of disposable earnings. It's important to respond to any legal notices regarding debt to avoid defaulting on the judgment.

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