Q: What do I need to do to protect myself against debts my wife is accruing before divorce is final?
We didn't do a legal separation because we didn't have children or any personal property to divide. We are basically waiting for the year to be up so we can file for absolute divorce. She has all of a sudden decided to buy a house before our divorce is final. What do I need to do to protect myself from being held financially responsible for the mortgage she is taking out? She has legal benefits at work and since the divorce is due to her adultery, she is going to file and pay for it. I didn't really want to have to pay for an attorney because I thought it was going to be simple. I'm not sure now.
A: The good news is that you have martial and coveture rights to the house she is buying, and you are not obligated to pay the mortgage. The bad news is that this is exactly why everyone should talk to an attorney when getting a divorce. Meet with a family law attorney, pay the $100-300 to do so, get all of your questions answered and figure out if you want the two of you to execute a free trader agreement or a separation agreement.
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