Legal Question in Family Law in Washington

Re: Marriage

YOUR QUESTION:

Before I marry my fiance' I need to know if I will take on his ''debts'' after I say ''I do?'' He owes the state of Washington back child-support (which is a tangled mess and anoher question to you) and I don't want ''them'' attaching my paycheck or bank accounts once my last name becomes his. Will that happen?

ANSWER:

NO, you will not be taking on his debts upon your getting married to him. You are not responsible or liable for his premarital debts nor are you liable for his separate debts incurred during the marriage. His legal obligation to pay support for his children from a past relationship is not an obligation that can be attributed to you.

Strategy tip: Bank/savings accounts that are in his name alone, as well as accounts that you and he hold jointly, are subject to garnishment for his separate debts, even though you may be the "source" of the money in those accounts. So be sure to keep a separate bank/savings account in your name alone, into which you should deposit only YOUR money (and not his). Accounts in your name alone (and which house only your money) are not subject to garnishments for his separate debts.

LDG