Figuring out finances during divorce may be one of the most difficult parts of the entire process for you and your spouse. What happens if you have both decided to reside in the marital home until the divorce is finalized, which means that there are bills to be accounted for in the home? The payment of household expenses, including utility bills, may become a matter of concern for a couple who is used to handling these things on a joint basis. We will help you through this part of your divorce.
Having a Joint Account With Your Spouse
Perhaps you and your spouse have a joint account together and have decided to maintain a single household until the divorce is finalized. If this is the case, you have to be able to come to an agreement about expenses around the house, such as electricity, water, gas, and more. Most couples use a joint account to pay household utilities and other expenses. During the divorce, it is probably in both your best interests to keep the joint account as a way to pay the bills, or both spouses can decide to evenly split the bills amongst themselves.
What if You Can’t Agree?
If you can’t agree on these matters, then a temporary court order will probably be issued in place. The judge will issue an order that states what payments should be made by which spouse, and when. The judge will consider factors such as the income and assets of each spouse and try to divide the bills fairly. The spouses must submit final disclosures of this information. Along with this, the judge may also choose to order temporary spousal support while the divorce is in progress and the spouse who makes a higher income will have to make regular payments to the other spouse for things like utility bills.
It is important that the person paying the utility bills is responsible for paying bills in the household and has permission to do so. If you have questions about how this process works, contact us today. We can help in the midst of disagreements and hope to help you get the best outcome in your divorce.
