Fiancee Debt

donnak88

Hello

I'm really after a bit of advice. Me and my fiancee are due to marry at the end of the year. He was out of work for while and was unable to pay into his IVA which failed in June 2009. Since then he has been temping jobs and not able to find anything permanent. Last year we wrote to all but one of his creditors so that he could make arrangements to them all. We never heard back and we decided to avoid writing to his last and biggest debt which is a loan that his ex took out in his name when they were living together. This loan is now 11 months away from being statuate barred. I bought a house at the end of last year and my fiancee has not contributed to it in any way. I am now worried that this loan will contact him. He would not be able to afford to pay this back . If they were to contact him after we got married I am worried that they could make a claim on the house. I know he is worried about this too and he does not want me to lose the house. Is there anyway of protecting the house from his debt and would it be better for him to go bankrupt before we get married. He was originallly going to do this and had paid an advisor to sort out his forms and court date as we have no idea on how to fill these out. But the advisor stopped contacting him. His number is no longer active and his email no longer works. Also he is worried that baliffs could let themself in and take evrything in the house. I bought everything in the house except his books and clothes. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

National_Debtline

Hi Donna

It is an urban myth that marriage will make you liable for your fiance's debts - it has no such effect.

If your fiance does decide to go ahead with bankruptcy, the timing is irrelevant as far as your marriage is concerned. You cannot intentionally or unintentionally acquire liability for these old debts of his.

From what I gather, the house is mortgaged in your sole name and you do not refer to any financial commitments in joint names, such as a bank overdraft. In that case there won't necessarily even be a connection between your respective credit files, so his debts won't be affecting your creditworthiness.

Finally for now, I would say the likelihood of any bailiffs is pretty remote as it stands. Creditors would have to sue your fiance to begin with and there is no indication that that has happened. Even then, civil bailiffs can't just break into a person's home.

I hope that is of some reassurance for now.

Regards

Dennis
Twitter: @natdebtline