Skip to main content
(866) 465-5395 Schedule a Consultation (866) 465-5395 Schedule a Consultation

Paying the Bills During Divorce

| |

You and your soon-to-be-ex spouse may still be under the same roof, or you might have already separated or found temporary arrangements apart from one another. Regardless of your current living situation, your regular monthly bills are still coming in. How do you know who should be paying the household bills during your divorce?

If you own a home, you’ll surely have utility bills including cable and Internet as well as mortgage and car payments to make. There are probably also credit card and loan statements, car, life and health insurance costs, and many other bills. No matter your current relationship with your spouse, determining who pays what might be confusing at first. Below are a few financial matters you’re likely facing during divorce and how to consider handling them.

Stick with What You Know

To avoid complicating an already complex situation, it’s a good idea to avoid taking on new financial responsibilities until after the divorce is finalized. Couples at the early stages of divorce often find it simplest to keep the status quo in terms of paying household bills – in other words, to continue to share bills that were typically shared, and take care of ones that one spouse usually covered alone. If one spouse covered the homeowners insurance every month, for example, it’s advisable for that person to continue doing so until the final agreement about ownership of the house is made.

When determining payment for bills for which you and your spouse did not have a consistent payment plan, here’s a good rule of thumb:

  1. If your name is the only one on a bill, you should pay the bill (if possible).
  2. Joint accounts on which both spouses’ names are included will likely require negotiations between you and your spouse.
  3. If you already have a clear picture of who will keep certain responsibilities and items (such as the car or house) after the divorce, the best idea is to start taking on the bills and expenses for those things.

Document Everything

From the time you file for divorce, document the bills you’re covering. You’ll have an opportunity to show these records to your lawyer and to the court as a snapshot of your regular earning and spending as well as the typical division of responsibility for paying bills.

Some divorcing spouses also open new, individual bank accounts and lines of credit to protect their finances after filing for divorce. It’s acceptable to do so, but transparency is key: you’ll be expected to share information about new finances with the court as your divorce proceeds.

Getting Help with Negotiations

Depending on your existing relationship with your soon-to-be-ex, you may need help coming to an agreement about household bills until the divorce is finalized. Your lawyer can help you work out the terms that make the most sense. Temporary orders by the court can make those agreements legally binding if necessary.

The divorce lawyers at Petrelli Previtera have helped couples navigate these and other complexities as they move through the divorce process. Contact our firm at 866-465-5395 to get the assistance you need to have the best outcome possible.

Client Testimonials

They are amazing! I highly recommend anyone that is in need of assistance with child support hearings to seek out the expertise and experience of this law firm and staff! They handled my case quickly and I feel that my money was put to good use. Much appreciated! Nothing less than five stars!

Alana Deverson

I just want to say GREAT JOB! She is a no nonsense professional with years of experience that qualifies her as a skilled Family Law attorney. She is seasoned, sensitive, and most of all she cares. She made things easy for me. Definitely recommend!

Kimberly Colby

Overall I was pleased with the results of my divorce case. The entire Petrelli Previtera team truly cares about their clients. Luckily for me, I was paired up with an amazing team helping all the way. If you happen to work with this firm and with the lawyers you’ll be in great hands. It was such an excellent service and it was beyond I expected.

A Family Law Client Chevy Chase , MD

Serving Clients at the Following Locations

Bethesda4800 Hampden Lane, Suite 200 Bethesda MD 20814(301) 234-7409view details
Maryland5425 Wisconsin Ave Chevy Chase, MD 20815(301) 889-8085view details
ChicagoTwo Prudential Plaza 180 North Stetson Suite 3500 Chicago, IL 60601(312) 252-2085view details
Schaumburg1750 E. Golf Rd, Suite 382 Schaumburg, IL 60173(630) 491-9670view details
Texas500 W 2nd St Suite 1900 Austin, TX 78701(512) 883-1684view details
Washington DC1717 K Street NW, Suite 900 Washington DC 20006(202) 519-0366view details
Denver7900 E. Union Ave. Suite 1100, Denver, CO 80237(720) 821-6440view details
Princeton475 Wall St, Suite 214, Princeton, NJ 08540(609) 917 9560view details
Linwood210 New Road #15 Linwood, NJ 08221(609) 375-0351view details
Parsippany8 Campus Dr, Parsippany, NJ 07054(973) 310-5320view details
Philadelphia1845 Walnut Street 19th Floor Philadelphia, PA 19103(215) 523-6900view details
Montgomery County516 DeKalb Street Suite C Norristown, PA 19401(610) 924-2870view details
Doylestown123 N Broad Street, Doylestown, PA 18901(267) 938-4480view details
Abington1147 Easton Road, Abington PA 19001(610) 890-4833view details
West Chester203 W. Chestnut St., Suite 204
West Chester, PA. 19380
(610) 431-4012view details
schedule a consultation Today
Contact Us Fill out the form or call us today (866) 465-5395