When deciding whether to pop the question ― or agree to a proposal ― its important to consider how debt can alter the relationship. From a legal standpoint, bringing debt into a marriage doesnt mean the other spouse becomes liable for it. That remains the responsibility of the person who accumulated it.

Do you marry a persons debt?

When one or both partners have debt coming into the marriage, the debt belongs solely to the person who incurred them. 1 Say, for example, you have $15,000 in private student loans in your name. Your spouse-to-be has $10,000 in credit card debt in their name.

How debt can destroy a marriage?

In a study of more than 4500 married couples, researchers saw that couples who took on more debt over time became more likely to split up. Couples with higher debt also fought more about money and reported lower marital satisfaction.