Q: Will Marriage have a bad effect on Bankruptcy? My girlfriend wants to file for bankruptcy, because of the debt for house and credit. I wonder if we should wait for her discharge? Then we marry?
A: You should wait for marriage until after her bankruptcy meeting of creditors. If you marry before filing, the inclusion of your income in determining whether she qualifies for bankruptcy will occur. This could push her out of Chapter 7 and in to a Chapter 13 if your combined income exceeds the Bankruptcy Means Test.
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