Will My Maryland Divorce Affect My Credit Score?

 Posted on September 10, 2026 in Divorce

Divorce itself doesn’t show up on your credit report. Rather, credit scores can be affected by what happens to the debts and accounts you shared with your spouse.

If you’re divorcing in 2026, a Howard County, MD divorce attorney can help you sort out what needs attention before it becomes a bigger problem.

When Can Getting Divorced in Maryland Affect Your Credit Score?

Your marital status does not appear on your credit report, but the division of debts and accounts in the marriage can have an impact on your score. Closing joint lines of credit can also have an effect.

How Does Maryland Divide Debt in a Divorce?

Under Maryland Family Law Code Section 8-205, a court can grant a "monetary award to adjust the equities between spouses." This helps the court reach a fair result when dividing marital property. The court considers factors such as each spouse’s contributions to the marriage, their financial circumstances, and how the property was acquired.

Maryland also considers debts connected to marital property. Marital debt generally means debt taken on to buy marital property. This can include debt such as a mortgage or a loan used to buy a marital asset. The divorce order can also state which spouse is responsible for paying certain debts.

Can a Joint Mortgage Affect Your Credit After a Maryland Divorce?

A mortgage is often the largest joint debt in a marriage, and it can be one of the hardest to separate. Simply awarding the house to one spouse in the divorce doesn’t take the other spouse’s name off the loan. A lender typically only removes a name through a refinance, a loan assumption, or a full payoff.

This means a late mortgage payment can affect both spouses’ credit, even if only one of them still lives in the house. A similar issue can come up with a shared auto loan or a credit card that was never formally closed. Even a small forgotten balance can eventually turn into a collections account on a credit report.

Does a Maryland Divorce Decree Remove Your Name From a Joint Account?

A divorce decree does not remove your name from a joint account by itself. A decree is only binding on you and your ex-spouse, not your bank or credit card company. If your name is still listed on a joint account, the lender can usually still come after you for missed payments, even if the decree says your ex is responsible for that specific debt.

What Can You Do to Protect Your Credit During a Divorce in Maryland?

Fortunately, there are steps you can take to protect your credit even during a divorce:

• Pull your credit report and list every joint account by name

• Ask your attorney about closing or freezing joint credit cards early in the case

• Ask about refinancing or assuming a loan you want to keep in your name, such as a car loan or mortgage

• Set up account alerts, so you know right away if a payment is missed

• Keep copies of the final divorce order for your records

If your divorce order requires your ex to refinance a loan and they do not, you may be able to ask the court to enforce the order. This might include filing a motion for contempt.

It’s worth checking your credit report periodically for at least the first year after your divorce is final. Old accounts sometimes take time to close out completely, even when everyone involved intends to close them right away. A quick review every few months can catch a problem before it grows into a bigger one.

Call a Columbia, MD Asset Division Attorney Today

Don’t wait to find out that you have a lingering joint debt until your credit score is impacted. At DM Family Law, you’ll work directly with an attorney who can help you address debts before they become problematic. Our firm brings more than 20 years of experience and a personal, client-centered approach to every case.

Call DM Family Law at 443-545-8100 to talk to our Howard County, MD divorce lawyer today.