Am i responsible for husbands debts?

jaynexxx_2

Hi.
My partner and I are hoping to get married next year. I am 41 and he is 52. We both have separate houses on which we are paying separate mortgages.
My partner has around £40'000 of unsecured debt. He has arrangements in place and is paying around £100 per month.
My question is once we are married will I also be responsible for the debt?
Also, when he dies what happens with the debt. Will his house automatically come to me or will I be forced to sell the house to pay off his debts?
Would this make a difference if the properties were in joint names?
Any help would be much appreciated
Many thanks

skylight

Marriage does not join finances together. So you will not be liable for any of his debts at all. This will only change should you ever get a joint bank account or loan out. Even then, you would only be liable that that particular joint debt and none of his own personal ones. However, that joint link may adversely affect your credit rating if he has a high level of debt.

If he dies with debts, then they will be re-paid out of his estate before the distribution of his assets. This may include the sale of his property if there is not enough cash elsewhere to pay the debts off. You will not personally be liable for any of his personal debts upon his death - only any joint ones.

Personally, I would a) never ever have a joint account of any description with him and b) see a solicitor about getting some wills drawn up. They will be able to help with inheritance tax etc, etc.

fatbelly

He's 52 and on a 33-year debt management plan!

He needs to get a plan together to produce a 15k lump sum & try full & final settlement.

Or if there is no equity in his house, consider bankruptcy.

Sorry, I know that's answering a question you haven't asked but I couldn't help it.

jaynexxx_2

Thank you, any advice is appreciated, but unfortunately, that's not an option available to us as we don't have a lump sum of any kind to make a settlement.

[Deleted User]

If you split up after marriage he will be entitled to a share of your hard earned assets. This would impact on any children's inheritance. Can you risk that?

jaynexxx_2

thank you, i never even considered that

tiger_eyes

I slept through property law class, so don't take my word for it, but I think his property needs to be in joint names (held as joint tenants specifically, not just tenants in common) for you to automatically inherit it on death without it going into your future husband's estate to be munched up by hungry creditors. It's called right of survivorship.