Any agreement to assume responsibility for joint debts should be recognized as part of the divorce settlement. Upon your divorce settlement, you and your ex-spouse might consider obtaining individual consolidation loans or bank cards to cover your share of the joint bills. Pay off the joint bills with your individual loans or bank cards and close all joint accounts. This helps ensure you'll be responsible only for those bills you agree to pay. It also will help you establish or reestablish credit in your own name.
Some companies offer to help improve or fix a consumer's credit record for a fee.
If the information in the credit report is accurate, no one can force the credit bureau to remove the information until the reporting period is completed. Some credit repair companies refuse to honor their guarantees or they go out of business when consumer complaints increase. In some states, credit repair clinics are prohibited. Cleaning Up a Bad Credit Record It is possible to restore a credit standing, even with negative information, such as bankruptcy and late payments, in the credit record. If assistance is needed, contact the local Maryland Cooperative Extension office or Consumer Credit Counseling Service.