If you’re seriously contemplating divorce and have a huge credit card debt to pay off, this might just complicate things for you. Also, much of the damage that debt causes could follow you for about seven to ten years from now, depending on the kind of credit card accounts you and your ex-spouse have. However, on the sunny side, you can get a divorce even if you have huge looming debts on your credit card. However, it is better to hand over the debt to the other party before your divorce comes through.

Though you may be going in for a divorce, it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t protect yourself from debt after a divorce. Getting rid of joint debts on credit cards is very difficult and if card issuers know there’s been a divorce between you and your spouse, they will come after you if your ex doesn’t pay up.

In such a situation, there are certain steps you should take to leave this marriage without any debt.

• Divide the debt on the cards you both use and move it to cards that are in your individual names. Alternatively, divide the debt on your joint cards. Also, cancel all joint cards.
• If either of you is ineligible for a card, have a relative cosign for it.
• Don’t make the mistake of getting out of marriage with a joint debt because if your ex does not pay or files for bankruptcy, the credit card issuer is well within his rights to demand the entire loan amount from you, besides any penalties and interest.
• Maintain records of all your expenses after your divorce date. This will tell you what’s yours and what isn’t.
• File documents regarding your joint credit cards and the money you owe early on. This is one way of keeping your ex from piling up debt, which you will be forced to repay.
• If you have property in joint names or a joint bank savings account, you can use it to lower your debt or even your home equity credit line.
• If your financial situation is grim, you perhaps have only the option to file for bankruptcy. If you do this while still not being officially divorced, you can both file together to keep your partner from being dumped with joint debt.

How to minimize joint debt during your divorce:

• Apply for a credit card in your single name. This will facilitate transferring your share of joint balances.
• Make a list of all your joint credit cards and check it against your credit bureau reports. Now, call all the credit card companies and ask for your current balances.
• Every three months, check your credit report during the divorce process to ensure that the three credit bureaus have updated and accurate information regarding your credit card accounts and that your spouse has not opened any new joint accounts.
• Beware of identity theft in the family, so look out for any new accounts opened in your name.
• Post-divorce, hold on to your credit monitoring service or ask for a credit report every three months. Two years after your divorce, you can monitor your credit report at six monthly intervals. This will help you keep on track and anticipate any problems relating to your former joint accounts.