Posted by dorothette bostic on April 29, 19100 at 18:59:16:
In Reply to: Debts posted by Nancy on July 15, 1998 at 14:45:27:
: When I married my husband two years ago it was understood that he was marrying me and taking on my two teenage children who do not receive child support. He knew that I had bills for a car loan and student loan that had to be paid, and that I had just reestablished my credit after 15 years of paying off my exhusbands (whom deserted my children and I) and my bills. My current husband agreed that we would always make sure that my bills would be paid on time and that I would control the financial affairs to ensure this.
: After a month into the new marriage, my husband announces to me that he is $5,000 in debt due to a foreclosure he underwent a few years before. I explained to him that I was not responsible for these bills and that I would not help him pay them. When the creditors finally would not stop calling and he couldn't avoid them anymore, I researched the bills that he was in debt to. He was to pay back $10,000 to a credit bureau for various bills that he had consolidated. The bills dated back to 10 years before our marriage. He also started receiving notices from the IRS on taxes that he had not filed for the tax year 1993. This was 3 years before we were married. I explained to my husband that he would have to go out and get a second job before I would help him pay for these debts.
: Needless to say, he reminded me that he was supporting my children and that I was obligated to help him pay these debts. We both work full time and put money into my checking account to pay the monthly bills. The majority of the money in the account is from my income along with the medical insurance which comes from me.
: What are my rights as far as not having to pay these bills for him? Is there somewhere where I can turn and have him pay these on his own? Without demanding that the source come from the income that is presently coming into the household?