Credit and Divorce: What Happens to Joint Accounts?
Published by Speed Credit
Table of Contents
- Does Divorce Directly Affect Your Credit Score?
- The Real Risk: Joint Accounts and Shared Debt
- What Happens to Joint Credit Cards in a Divorce?
- How to Protect Your Credit During and After Divorce
- Rebuilding Credit After Divorce
- Next Up: Using Credit to Fund a Wedding—Without Regret
Does Divorce Directly Affect Your Credit Score?
Nope—there’s no “divorce” section on your credit report. But divorce can absolutely **impact your credit indirectly**, especially if shared accounts aren’t handled carefully. Late payments, increased utilization, or missed debt assignments are where the damage happens.
The Real Risk: Joint Accounts and Shared Debt
Even if a divorce agreement says your ex is responsible for a debt, lenders don’t care—they care whose name is on the account. If both names are on the loan or card, **both people are still liable**, and missed payments hurt both credit scores.
What Happens to Joint Credit Cards in a Divorce?
- Joint accounts – You both legally share the debt. One missed payment = two damaged scores.
- Authorized user accounts – Remove your ex (or yourself) to prevent future charges or disputes.
- Balance transfers – If possible, transfer debt into separate accounts before finalizing the divorce.
Pro Tip: Make a list of every shared account and close or separate them proactively—before things get messy.
How to Protect Your Credit During and After Divorce
- Freeze or limit shared accounts to prevent surprise charges
- Get a copy of your credit reports from all three bureaus
- Notify lenders and request changes to account access
- Document every agreement about who’s paying what (preferably in the divorce decree)
- Set up autopay for any accounts still in your name—even if your ex is “supposed” to pay
Rebuilding Credit After Divorce
If your score took a hit, focus on small, fast wins to rebuild:
- Open a secured credit card in your own name
- Become an authorized user on a trusted family member’s account
- Pay down any balances from shared accounts you’re stuck with
- Set alerts for due dates and report monitoring
Start here: Rebuild Credit After Paying Off Debt
Next Up: Using Credit to Fund a Wedding—Without Regret
Flipping the script next! If love is in the air, we’ll talk about how to **use credit wisely to fund a wedding**—without starting your marriage in debt. Read it here: Using Credit to Fund a Wedding—Without Regret
