Protecting Your Credit During a Divorce Home Sale

Worried about protecting your credit while going through a divorce? Here are three things to know before the dust settles, not after.

Hi, I'm Tanja Odzak, Realtor with eXp Realty, a certified real estate divorce specialist, helping people sell and buy homes right here in the East Bay for the last 10 years.

First, creditors do not honor divorce decrees. If your decree says your ex is responsible for an account, that agreement is between the two of you, not your lender. If your name is still on that account and your ex pays late, it still affects your credit.

Second, joint accounts stay on your credit report until they're paid off or closed. Know the difference between being an account holder (fully responsible), an authorized user (can use it, not obligated to pay), and a primary holder. Pull your credit reports, contact every creditor listed, close joint cards, and remove your ex as an authorized user anywhere the account is solely yours.

Third, stay in active communication with your creditors. Make sure they have your current address, discuss removing an ex as an authorized user directly, and consider freezing your credit with all three bureaus to prevent a vindictive ex from opening anything fraudulent in your name.

I'm Tanja Odzak, and I've sold over $100 million worth of homes with a decade of experience in the East Bay. Protecting your credit during the divorce itself, not after, gives you a real head start on the next chapter.