Does getting married combine your debt?

Getting married typically merges a lot of financial decisions. Couples may open joint bank accounts, apply for a mortgage together or start planning around shared savings goals, all while figuring out how two sets of income, expenses and financial habits fit into one household. If one or both parties brings existing debt into the marriage, though, it can make that process considerably more complicated.

That can be a big issue right now, as credit card balances and other debts are currently a major issue for millions of Americans. High-rate credit card debt , in particular, has been ticking upward nationwide, and in many cases, it now takes up a significant portion of a borrower's budget each month. Those monthly debt payments can impact the amount that's available for housing costs, emergency savings and retirement contributions, even if the plan is to keep some finances separate after marriage.

And the legal side of debt can add another layer of confusion. Marriage changes certain financial rights and responsibilities, and understanding those distinctions can help couples avoid costly mistakes. So, does getting married combine your debt — or do those debts remain individual responsibilities? That's what we'll examine.

Marriage itself generally does not automatically combine two people's existing debts. If you enter a marriage with a credit card balance, personal loan or other debt solely in your name, that debt will typically remain your individual responsibility.

For example, if one spouse enters the marriage with $15,000 in credit card debt on an account held in their name, it remains that person's responsibility to repay. Getting married doesn't add the other spouse to the account. The same principle applies to other individually held debts like personal loans and auto loans. However, those payments can still affect the household budget, even if only one spouse is legally responsible for paying them.

The situation changes, though, when spouses jointly borrow money . If you and your spouse apply for a joint personal loan, mortgage or another form of credit together, both borrowers are typically responsible for repayment. That can have important consequences if the relationship or household finances change.

A divorce agreement , for example, may assign responsibility for a joint debt to one spouse, but that generally doesn't remove the other person's contractual responsibility to the lender. If any payments are missed, both borrowers' credit could potentially be affected.

If you take on debt individually during marriage, the rules can become more complicated. In most states, a debt taken out solely by one spouse will generally remain that spouse's responsibility. The rules differ, however, in community property states , where certain debts incurred during the marriage may be treated as obligations of the marital community, even if only one spouse's name appears on the account.

There can also be exceptions involving debts used for household necessities or other shared expenses.