How to Determine a Married Couple's Credit Score

Getting married and starting a life together is a fantastic adventure. But as with all adventures, it is best to go in well-prepared. Knowing your credit score and your spouse's credit score and how those scores will be viewed by potential lenders is crucial to financial success as a couple.

Instructions

1

Visit myfico.com to get credit reports from all three of the major credit bureaus. You will need to provide each spouse's Social Security number. As of November 2009, each report costs $15.95. You should have six reports total.

2

Look at your scores individually. They should be fairly similar. For simplification, it is easiest to average those scores. Add all three of them up and divide the resulting number by three. Count the resulting number as your credit score.

3

Repeat Step 2 with your spouse's credit reports.

4

Look at the lower average score. That score is what lenders will consider when you apply for a loan or mortgage as a couple.