Q: Should I turn off the utilities in my name since I moved out and he still lives there or wait until after divorce?
My husband and I are divorcing. The house is in both our names, but all the utilities are in my name. I moved out in October. Should I keep them in my name until the divorce is done or turn them off and make him turn them on in his name?
A: When a divorce is filed, most courts impose an automatic restriction on the spouses from making any changes to the normal payment of household expenses, changes to bank accounts, utility accounts, loans, major purchases, health insurance, and other finances, etc., without getting prior court approval. Before you can make a change, you must apply to the court, or you could be held in contempt for violating the court restriction. Check with your divorce attorney. If you don't have one, use the Find a Lawyer tab to retain a local divorce attorney to represent you, to avoid complicating the divorce process.
1 user found this answer helpful
A: I agree with the prior answer if the divorce has been filed. If not, you are legally free to do this, but you should inform your husband so he has the opportunity to just change to his name without service disconnection.
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