If I divorce her, am I still liable for the bills?

Question

Am I responsible for my wife’s medical bills? Should I file for bankruptcy?

Ronald Nims · Answer

In Ohio if you're married, you are responsible for your spouse's medical bills. Filling bankruptcy will discharge this obligation.

Richard Gonzales · Answer

I need to ask you about 50 to 60 more questions to give you an intelligent answer.

Helene Ellenbogen · Answer

Medical bills a a community responsibility. Whether or not to file for bankruptcy is a question that requires a great deal more information than you provided here. You can often negotiate medical bills with the provider to reduce the amount owed. This would be advisable before even considering bankruptcy.

Daniel Garner · Answer

Oregon does have a family expense statute which makes you responsible for medical bills incurred while you are married. Bankruptcy would discharge those bills. Whether or not you should file for bankruptcy depends upon a lot of factors which ought to be discussed in a free consultation.

Gerard Fierro · Answer

The medical expenses incurred during the marriage are community debts.  You should consult with a bankruptcy lawyer about filing a bankruptcy.

Richard Jacobson · Answer

If you live in a community property state like Wisconsin, you are liable with her on all the debts accumulated in the interest of the family-which is nearly everything.  After the divorce, you would still be liable for the debt which is allocated to you (and the debt allocated to her is she does not pay).  A bankruptcy can help, but not always in this kind of situation, since you cannot discharge debts for domestic support, which basically means the debt allocated to you in the divorce, or debts which she pays when you should  (you would then have to reimburse her.)  You really need a lawyer skilled both in divorce and bankruptcy.  Those are services I provide, and so do a good many other lawyers.

Dorothy Bunce · Answer

In Nevada, as in most states, makes spouses financially responsible for paying each others medical debts.  Divorcing will  prevent you from liability for medical debt once the divorce is final, but will not get you off the hook for debt made while still legally married.

Stuart Nachbar · Answer

It would depend on what is written in the Property Settlement Agreement and the division of debt in same.

Robert McCall · Answer

Generally the parties are equally responsible for each other's medical; bills. I would recommend letting the Judge decide who owes what.

Diane Berger · Answer

Responsibility for bills would be determined during the divorce.  It would depend on many things, including income of both parties, nature of medical bills, etc.  The question as to bankruptcy cannot be answered without knowing a great deal more  such as how much is owed, what assets are available, etc.

Mandy McKellar · Answer

This depends on so many items not mentioned in this post. I would recommend meeting with divorce counsel before you would do anything else.

Rex K. Daines · Answer

A person is liable for any medical bills of a spouse while legally married.  If you get divorced tomorrow and she goes to the doctor the next day, then you are not liable for that new debt, but you are still liable for anything incurred during marriage.

Aimee Carol Robbins · Answer

No.

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If I divorce her, am I still liable for the bills?

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