Liability of previous Credit Card Debts before marriage or defacto relationship

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Permalink Reply by maree on April 24, 2010 at 10:58am

Hi,
You might be interested in a website the government has set up. www.moneyhelp.gov.au which may answer your question. There is also a contact number where you can get further information if required. Defacto laws changed on the 1st March 2009, so this may effect you depending on how long you have been in your relationship. You can make a free appointment with a financial counsellor or even a solicitor for more information (through a community legal service) located throughout Victoria. Vistit www.communitylaw.org.au for your nearest location. or just google community legal services and your state should appear.
Hope this is helpful
M

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Permalink Reply by Vonny on April 24, 2010 at 7:38pm

From what I remember, you can't be liable for each other's debts in Oz whether married or defacto or whatever other relationship including inheritance BUT there's ways around it.
Generally you can't be liable for anyone's debts except your own (as long as your partner isn't a guarantor). The only problem is if you have assets in joint names, the people you owe can try to get a cut of the assets if the debt is defaulted. Also, if you separate, then all your assets are treated together so I'd assume liabilities would be as well.

You may need to double check all this as it's just off the top of my head from what I recall.

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