I am a married stay at home mom and have 5 credit cards in my name that I have had to let default because we couldn't afford to pay them. I had to choose between paying my credit cards or paying the mortgage, med insurance, food etc... My husband doesn't know I have these cards. I used them over the last few years to pay bills, buy food or just help in a pinch if we were low on cash. They are all in collections and a few of them I have made arrangements on but a few are threatening to sue. My name is not on our house, cars or bank account BUT we do live in Washington which is a community property state. If I get sued does it automatically affect my husband too? I am afraid he will get wages garnished or we will get a lien on our property. My husband had a judgment years ago but it just sat on his credit report. They never tried to collect. I have read and heard so many scary things about judgments and I just don't know how worried I should be. Do they always try to collect or is there a chance it may just sit on MY credit? Someone please tell me something that isn't scary. I don't want to tell my husband about this even though I know I should. We have no way to pay these off.

Worried in Washington:confused:

I think that yes, even though your name is not on the house deed. etc. that they can put liens, etc, against the property because you are married, as well as garnish bank accounts that your money and your spouses money both go into. Sometimes they don't collect, but with big-time credit card companies they probably will. You should get some financial advice from a personal financial adviser and talk to a debt consolidation firm, as well as getting a lawyer. If you can work out payment plans with the help of a lawyer or if you can get your debt consolidated into lower monthly payments, it may help you. Good luck.

Hello Raquell

First of all tell your husband about these cc. It is better for you to tell him then for him to find out from a cc company. How much do you owe? It may not be as bad as you think. You may be able to work out a payment plan BUT be sure you get in writing. Just curious how did you manage to keep this from your husband for so long?

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Originally Posted by raquell

I am a married stay at home mom and have 5 credit cards in my name that I have had to let default because we couldn't afford to pay them. I had to choose between paying my credit cards or paying the mortgage, med insurance, food etc.... My husband doesn't know I have these cards. I used them over the last few years to pay bills, buy food or just help in a pinch if we were low on cash. They are all in collections and a few of them I have made arrangements on but a few are threatening to sue. My name is not on our house, cars or bank account BUT we do live in Washington which is a community property state. If I get sued does it automatically affect my husband too? I am afraid he will get wages garnished or we will get a lien on our property. My husband had a judgment years ago but it just sat on his credit report. They never tried to collect. I have read and heard so many scary things about judgments and I just don't know how worried I should be. Do they always try to collect or is there a chance it may just sit on MY credit? Someone please tell me something that isn't scary. I don't want to tell my husband about this even though I know I should. We have no way to pay these off.

Worried in Washington:confused:

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I am in pretty much the same situatiuon! My husband does know now. It has been rough. I joined Debters Annonymous - that is pretty helpful. I am really worried about the lien and depleting our SMALL savings account! Any advice you get will help me too>

You shoul consult with a lawyer in your state about that, I can tell you that I believe that here in Lousiana also a community property state the banks can not touch the house if you are not in the dees and your spouse didn't co-signed the credit application, that community property thing is more for divorce stuff and sucessions. I might be wrong on this one, go see a lawyer, some do free initial consultation.

Carl.-