Kansas City, MO asked in Bankruptcy, Divorce and Family Law for Kansas

Q: My husband moved to Florida we are not legally separated so could I file for divorce and bankruptcy at the same time?

If I file for bankruptcy and he gets very upset and filed for divorce how would that affect my bankruptcy? Can he try to get me to pay the debt in the divorce?

Related Topics:
1 Lawyer Answer

A: You can file your bankruptcy case and your divorce case on the same day. However, from a practical perspective, it may make more sense to get your bankruptcy behind you before filing for divorce. This is because, by having the debt discharged before the divorce, you reduce the number of issues that need to be litigated or negotiated during your divorce case. You could save both time and money by resolving the debt issue before the divorce.

If you and your husband are on speaking terms, you may want to talk to him about filing a joint bankruptcy petition prior to the divorce.

This answer assumes you are filing a chapter 7 bankruptcy, which can be over in a matter of months. A chapter 13 bankruptcy involves a 3-to-5 year commitment.

LEGAL DISCLAIMER: This is not legal advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship. All information posted here is intended to provide general information to the general public and not to any specific individual. If you require legal advice, please consult an attorney licensed to practice in your state.

Timothy Denison agrees with this answer

Justia Ask a Lawyer is a forum for consumers to get answers to basic legal questions. Any information sent through Justia Ask a Lawyer is not secure and is done so on a non-confidential basis only.

The use of this website to ask questions or receive answers does not create an attorney–client relationship between you and Justia, or between you and any attorney who receives your information or responds to your questions, nor is it intended to create such a relationship. Additionally, no responses on this forum constitute legal advice, which must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case. You should not act upon information provided in Justia Ask a Lawyer without seeking professional counsel from an attorney admitted or authorized to practice in your jurisdiction. Justia assumes no responsibility to any person who relies on information contained on or received through this site and disclaims all liability in respect to such information.

Justia cannot guarantee that the information on this website (including any legal information provided by an attorney through this service) is accurate, complete, or up-to-date. While we intend to make every attempt to keep the information on this site current, the owners of and contributors to this site make no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to from this site.