Does Your Credit Score Change When You Get Married?

Marriage is a union and each spouse must learn to take the good with the bad. Sometimes the "bad" is a poor credit score. A person's credit score is one of the critical factors banks and other financial institutions use when determining whether to loan someone money. Your spouse's credit rating could have an affect on yours, depending on how your finances are structured.

Marriage and Credit Scores

Couples often open joint bank accounts and make joint purchases when they marry. The joint accounts and joint debt could have an affect on each spouse's credit rating. According to Experian's website -- one of the three largest credit reporting bureaus in the United States -- joint accounts, or loans where a spouse is a cosigner, can affect the credit rating of both spouses. Additionally, in community property states, any debt acquired during the marriage -- even debt acquired by one spouse alone -- is considered marital property and thereby affects both spouse's credit rating.

Preserving Your Credit Score

Preserving your credit score from your spouse's credit score in community property states can be difficult since any debt acquired by either spouse can be reported on both spouse's credit report. As of 2011, only nine states are community property states: Arizona, California, Idaho, Louisiana, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, Washington and Wisconsin. In other states, keeping separate accounts and avoiding jointly held debts or financial obligations can help preserve your credit score.

Other Factors Affecting Your Credit Score

In addition to your spouse's credit score potentially affecting your credit score, several other factors can potentially damage your score. Failure to repay debts, paying debts late, keeping high balances on credit cards, and obtaining new credit can negatively impact your credit score. If your spouse does anything to damage her credit score, those actions may also negatively impact your credit rating in community property states or with regard to jointly held accounts or obligations.

Improving Your Credit Score

Both spouses can take measures to improve their credit ratings. Paying bills on time and either paying off any credit balance or keeping low credit balances will help improve a credit rating. A couple that believes a spouse's credit will have an impact on the marriage's finances should consider speaking to a financial adviser and taking steps to improve credit to reduce any potential damage.