Divorce & Annulment

questions & answers

Question: If my husband is charging gambling debts to a mutual credit card, can I avoid responsibility?

Answer: As a general rule, all authorized users of a joint credit card are personally responsible for all charges incurred on that credit card. In situations such as yours, it is strongly recommended that the concerned spouse contact the credit card issuer immediately to describe the situation and either close the joint account or if that is not possible (it may depend, for example, on whether both spouses must sign) try to arrange to eliminate his/her personal responsibility for any future charges. (In either case, the concerned spouse (1) will no longer be able to use the credit card and (2) will continue to be responsible for all past charges.) If the amounts being charged are substantial, it would be wise to consult an attorney.