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by: RobertBain
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Joint credit is something many people engage in when they are married or in a serious relationship where they share their finances. No one gets their finances mixed up with someone else for a short term relationship. This is something that they anticipate lasting forever.

Unfortunately that isn't always the case. With half of all marriages ending in divorce, it gets harder and harder to predict the future of it. While it can be emotionally hard when such a relationship ends, your personal credit can suffer as well. This can make it difficult for you to maintain a good credit rating for your future.

The debts in a relationship can be divided up based on who is legally responsible for them. If they are joint accounts, then both parties have an obligation to pay for them. Trust me when I tell you the lender will pursue both parties equally. They just want their money, and they don't care who gives it to them.

The mindset of buy it now and pay for it later can definitely pose problems where your credit is concerned. When you have joint credit with someone though it can be even more of a problem. You can end up paying for what they don't long after that relationship has ended.

It is hard to say exactly how joint credit will affect you due to these differences in the laws. It is a smart move though to get all the information about it before you sign on any forms with another person. You want to make sure they are responsible. You also need to be committed to paying it according to the outlined terms.

Sometimes you may be listed just as an authorized card holder on a credit card account. This is different from joint credit. If you add someone to your account this way make sure you are aware of this fact. You don't want to end up assuming they will be liable for half of the bill and in reality they don't have to legally pay any of it.

There are plenty of benefits with joint credit too though. For example if you don't have credit but your spouse does it can help to build yours. The lender will be more likely to give you the approval if one of the parties has established a record of being responsible. Keep in mind that you can still apply for credit separately if you wish to even when you are married and sharing financial obligations.

Joint credit can hold some benefits for you and it can be detrimental to your credit in the long run. No one can say for sure how a relationship end up so you need to be prepared. Good financial decisions as a couple will help you to keep your credit sound though. In fact, the number one reason why couples split up is financial stress. If you can keep that to a minimum it could save your relationship.

About the Author

Robert Bain tries to untangle the complicated world of credit. He offers his opinions on business credit and personal finance, online credit offers, bankruptcy, and unsecured credit cards.

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