One of the standard things I like to ask clients for during the initial information gathering stage of a divorce case is a copy of his or her credit report. Credit reports are a very useful tool because they often contain information that the client may have overlooked, forgotten about, or were never aware of. This is especially important because, during the marriage, spouses sometimes incur debt jointly in one another’s names. Therefore, the risk exists that there are additional debts beyond those that a party knows about.
For example, we sometimes find additional debts, mortgages, or other encumbrances that the client was not aware of. If we know about an outstanding debt, then we can make sure responsibility for it gets assigned to the correct party in the divorce. Having the credit report ensures that there are no unpleasant surprises after the known debts have already been divided in the divorce that require additional litigation, or even re-opening of the divorce case.
Anyone can acquire a free copy of his or her credit report once per year from each of the three (3) major credit reporting bureaus, Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Parties can obtain a copy of their credit report for free at www.annualcreditreport.com.
If you have any questions about why a copy of your credit report can assist you in a divorce proceeding, please call me today at 952-800-2025 or reach out via our online contact form to set up your free consultation.
