Wednesday, December 3, 2008

Protecting your credit during divorce

By Mike Mastracci

Credit scores are important, more than ever. When you separate or divorce, special care needs to be taken to protect your scores. Duriing these times of chane , it might be wise to shop around.

To avoid any major hits on your credit report, you need to do something pro-active to weather the financial storm on the horizon. Many financial experts say that woman suffer more in the area of finances than do their male counterparts. This is largely because even today more men are the primary credit qualifier for obtaining mortgages and credit in general. Whether male or female, without a solid credit history in your own name, you won't be able to qualify for refinancing the marital home.

High interests loans can really increase not only the amount of your debt, but it will lenghten the time that you take attempting to dig out of the hole.

. Consider tearing up all your cards.

. Do not pledge the credit of the other spouse.

If you're merely a credit card user on your spouse's card, remove your name.

Try to agree on one appraiser rather than shopping for a "buyers" appraiser or a "seller's" appraiser.

Next to housing, generally auto expenses are one of the larger monthly bills that couples have to deal with. When it comes down to prioritizing what gets paid on time and what gets paid late or not at all, the importance of a vehicle is more pronounced than ever. It sure would be a drag to see your car being towed away by Rob the Repo Guy.

When the tough times hit, hope for the best, but plan for the worst. Take precautions to protect your credit and your good name. Regardless of a divorce, if there is joint debt - a mortgage, car loan or credit card --- you are both on the hook to pay it off.

When couple fight, it is often about communication problems, sex or money; and for everything else, well, there is Master Card. Credit card debt is the major reason for bankruptcy filings in the United States. People often see plastic use as something different and unrelated to wealth and prosperity, often though, you can't have one without the other.

Quality legal advice and guidence is a must if bankruptcy is a consideration. - 15784

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