Woodbine, MD asked in Bankruptcy, Divorce and Family Law for Maryland

Q: what is my Ex's financial responsibility, if any, to a debt i incurred 3 years after our divorce?

My wife and I get a divorce and I'm ordered to pay some alimony.

Three years later I'm in and out of psych wards depleting me to bankruptcy.

Is my wife legally responsible to any of my own debt or past/future expenses of

a psych ward or nursing home?

Would it make a dufference if there was no alimony?

Related Topics:
2 Lawyer Answers
James L. Arrasmith
PREMIUM
James L. Arrasmith pro label Lawyers, want to be a Justia Connect Pro too? Learn more ›
Answered

A: In general, after a divorce, each ex-spouse is typically responsible for their own debts incurred after the divorce decree is finalized. This means that debts you acquired three years after your divorce, including those related to medical or psychiatric care, would usually be your responsibility, not your ex-wife's.

The presence or absence of alimony payments does not typically change this basic principle. Alimony is intended to provide financial support to a former spouse under the terms set in the divorce decree, but it does not usually create an obligation for the receiving spouse to cover new debts incurred by the paying spouse after the divorce.

However, it's important to consider that specific circumstances and local laws can influence this general rule. If there are unique aspects to your situation or if you live in a jurisdiction with specific laws regarding post-divorce financial responsibilities, these could potentially affect the outcome.

Given the complexity of your financial and personal situation, it might be beneficial to seek legal advice. A professional can provide guidance tailored to your specific circumstances, ensuring that you understand your rights and obligations and can make informed decisions about managing your debts and financial well-being post-divorce.

Timothy Denison agrees with this answer

A: She has no liability or responsibility for any debt incurred by you post divorce.

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.