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    If one spouse in a marriage exits debt review, can it affect the other spouse's credit score?

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    TITLE: How Debt Review Removal Affects Your Spouse's Credit Score | NDRC | META: Whether debt review removal affects your spouse depends on your marriage regime. Community of property couples apply jointly.

    Whether debt review removal affects your spouse's credit score depends on your matrimonial property regime.

    Married in community of property:

    If you are married in community of property, both spouses share a single joint estate. Under the NCA, both spouses must apply for debt review jointly when married in community of property. Both must apply for debt review removal jointly as well. One spouse cannot exit while the other remains listed.

    Both spouses' credit profiles are affected simultaneously. If debt review is successfully removed for the joint estate, both credit profiles are updated. If debt review continues, both remain listed.

    Married out of community of property, with or without accrual:

    Each spouse has a separate estate and separate credit profile. One spouse being under debt review does not directly affect the other spouse's credit profile or credit score. When one spouse applies for debt review removal independently, the other spouse's credit profile is not affected by the outcome.

    Joint credit applications post-removal:

    If you and your spouse are applying for joint credit such as a home loan or vehicle finance after debt review removal, both credit profiles will be assessed. Even if one spouse has exited debt review cleanly, the other spouse's profile, including any history of the joint debt review period, will be considered by the credit provider.

    NDRC manages both joint and individual debt review removal applications. Confirm your marital property regime during your free assessment so the correct process is applied.

    Expert Answer

    Provided by NCR-registered debt counsellors (NCRDC3106)

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