How to save my.....

[JohnMichael]

I guess I should start with my story. I married the woman I loved (past tense). We got married about two years ago. I only recently discovered that she ran up a whole pile of credit card debt. I guess she was able to hide it by getting the mail before I got home but I found some bills in the desk while looking for receipts to prepare my taxes. She told me she charged around $40,000 on various cards. I don't know if I can believe her or not since she's obviously been lying for a while. I brought a house and a good income to this marriage. She brought nothing. She said she wanted to finish her degree, but she never got around to doing that. So she's been sitting around the house buying stuff.

I make $65,000 a year. She makes nothing. The house I bought has $50,000 in equity. I'm not willing to cash this in for her stupidity. She moved in with her parents since I kicked her out. Can she file bankruptcy on her own and leave me and my house out of it? I know Wisconsin is a community property state. Does that mean I have to pay her debts? She used my income to get the cards without my knowledge. Isn't that fraud? Can I hire a lawyer and sue her?

[SinkingFast]

Technically, maybe a case could be made for fraud. But frankly, CC's don't investigate to heavily. And generally they ask for "household" income when qualifying an applicant for a LOC. Your wife coulda included the dog's income in the "household" for all the Creditors would know or care.

You need to pull your Credit Reports and see if you are listed as the responsible party for any of the cards wife opened. You can get a free copy of all 3 CRA's reports at http://www.annualcreditreport.com

Here's a link with some interesting info for you:

http://www.balancepro.net/education/...nddivorce.html

And here's an excellent link with information specific to Wisconsin:

http://www.divorcenet.com/states/wisconsin/wi_faq03