Legal Question in Family Law in California

Well certainly it would affect you, but would you be personally liable for the debt? No. You would, however, have to make sure to keep your income and assets in accounts that he cannot access. Funds in joint accounts, and jointly held assets would be considered to belong to him as much as you and would therefore be reachable to satisfy the debt.

Once you get married, any community property that you acquire could be used to satisfy a premarital debt. As Mr. McCormick points out, the best thing to protect your earnings is to place them in an account that your boyfriend cannot withdraw from.