Utilities in Spouses Name

[cfrmn]

I am married but am thinking of filing Chapter 7 individually. I am the primary wage earner in the home, my wife only works part time. Most of the utilities, however, are listed in my wife's name even though I'm the one who actually pays the bills.

Should I have the utilities transferred into my name before filing? If I understand correctly, I still have to list my spouses wages and all expenses of the household on the means test, so does it make a difference whose name the utilities are in?

Btw, we are current on utility payments so there would be no attempt to discharge any utility related debt.

[HHM]

It doesn't matter, you do not need to switch the names on the utilities bills. It is pretty much assumed that married couples share expenses.

[SinkingFast]

You start out with your Wife's income as part of the calculations, but later, just like filing "Married Seperate" income taxes, you'll back her income back out. Then you'll just claim your portion of the Expenses.

If you earn 75% of the household income, that would be a good place to start on figuring your share of the Expenses.