When going through a divorce, it is normal for both parties in the marriage and their attorneys to focus on things like splitting up marital assets. One thing that many people don't think about, though, is how they are going to deal with their marital debts. When you think about hiring a divorce attorney, you might not really think that they can help you with your debts. However, if you and your spouse are in debt, then you will probably want to talk to your divorce lawyer about debt-related matters so that they can hopefully help you in the ways listed below and more.

Helping You Preserve Your Credit Score

As you are working to rebuild your life after your divorce, you will probably find that your credit score is very important. You might be ready to buy another home or rent an apartment when moving out of the marital home, for example, and your credit score can obviously have a big impact while you are doing this. You might find that your credit score will matter when you're getting your utilities turned on or even when you're looking for a job after being a stay-at-home parent throughout your marriage. Because of this, it's important to work with your divorce lawyer to make sure that your marital debts are taken care of rather than ignored. After all, this can help you a lot with preserving your credit score.

Assisting You in Figuring Out a Repayment Option for Debt

You and your spouse might feel as if you're drowning in debt. In fact, this financial stress might have even been one of the things that contributed to your divorce. Now, you could be wondering how you and your spouse are ever going to repay your debt. A divorce lawyer can help with potentially working out a repayment plan that will work for you and your spouse, or they might advise that you meet with a bankruptcy lawyer or other professional.

Helping You Avoid Being Responsible for Debt That Isn't Yours

You probably don't want to be held responsible for any debt that your spouse might have incurred, such as student loan debt. You might also want to make sure that you aren't responsible for any debts that your spouse might incur during your separation or after your divorce. Your attorney can help you protect yourself from this type of problem.

As you can see, there are actually a few ways that a divorce lawyer can help you with debt-related matters while you're going through a separation and divorce. Therefore, you should make sure that you are upfront and honest with your lawyer about any debts that you and your spouse might be responsible for, and you should be willing to communicate with your lawyer about these matters.

If you have questions about divorce, talk to a divorce lawyer, such as Melei Petsche Spencer.