How do we find out what we owe?

You probably already know what you owe. However, if one spouse has been secretive about financial matters or if one spouse is a compulsive shopoholic, you may be unaware of how much debt has been incurred. The easiest way to find out what you owe is to get a credit report. There are three companies that provide credit reports at minimal cost: Equifax. (800) 685-1111 Experian (800) 392-1122 Trans Union (800) 916-8800 Once you have received a copy of your credit report, you must establish which accounts you are liable for, which accounts are joint accounts and which accounts are solely your spouse's responsibility. Now that you know how much you owe, it is important to freeze you accounts in order to prevent your debts from getting any worse. To do this you can call the number on the back of the credit card and ask them to freeze your account. Remember, never cut off your spouse without their knowledge. Both partners should agree on which credit cards to freeze before you call the credit card company. You can even decide on keeping one or two credit cards active for designated purposes only and make sure you decide on spending limits.