Want to marry. Have financial messes.

[Tunnelboy777]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? CA

I want to marry my girlfriend of 10 years. She's got good credit, and her finances are in good order. On the other hand, my finances are kind of a mess.

1) I have a lot of old collections that have all been written off but are still on my report. That part is getting better though. I've worked my way up to a 628 credit score from the low 500's.

2) I had a civil judgment against me from a criminal act in 1989. I made some payments, but starting around 2000 I stopped hearing from my county's collection service and haven't heard from anyone since. I was told by someone that the plaintiff was supposed to re-up the case after 10 years and apparently didn't do that so it's now over.

3) I haven't filed state or federal taxes in several years. Working on it, but expect to incur some serious debt on this one.

I know the first response from someone would be "Why would she want to marry a deadbeat like you in the first place?". The fact is things are better, and I'm making progress in getting my finances better. Aside from that, what is the best way to do this so she doesn't absorb any of my problems after marriage? Is there a way?

Thanks,

 

[Antigone*]

It's called shacking up.

 

[LdiJ]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? CA

I want to marry my girlfriend of 10 years. She's got good credit, and her finances are in good order. On the other hand, my finances are kind of a mess.

1) I have a lot of old collections that have all been written off but are still on my report. That part is getting better though. I've worked my way up to a 628 credit score from the low 500's.

2) I had a civil judgment against me from a criminal act in 1989. I made some payments, but starting around 2000 I stopped hearing from my county's collection service and haven't heard from anyone since. I was told by someone that the plaintiff was supposed to re-up the case after 10 years and apparently didn't do that so it's now over.

3) I haven't filed state or federal taxes in several years. Working on it, but expect to incur some serious debt on this one.

I know the first response from someone would be "Why would she want to marry a deadbeat like you in the first place?". The fact is things are better, and I'm making progress in getting my finances better. Aside from that, what is the best way to do this so she doesn't absorb any of my problems after marriage? Is there a way?

Thanks,

The best thing for her is not to marry you until you have resolved your financial issues...PARTICULARLY your tax issues. In fact, if she were on this forum I would strongly recommend that she NOT marry you until all of your tax returns were filed and the taxes assessed and paid for.

However....in the alternative, its possible for you to marry without problems for her as long as you have 1) filed all your past tax returns and the taxes have been assessed, 2) you never have ANY joint ownership of ANY assets or any joint accounts of any kind.

 

[Tunnelboy777]

Wow thanks for the quick replies. I guess that is the reality then. I'm in no hurry really. We had agreed to get married someday. The problem is that my dad and her mom are in their early 90's and we'd like them to see us get married before it's too late. I guess that's a good enough reason to hurry up with the past taxes.

So basically, when I get the taxes submitted and they do whatever horrible things they're going to do, at THAT point it is ok to go ahead as long as my name doesn't appear anywhere on any of her financial records, correct? Nothing else is required?