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Colorado Credit Card Debt & Property Lien

Colorado Credit Card Debt & Property Lien
Mark Cappel
UpdatedMar 11, 2024
Key Takeaways:
  • A credit card issuer may sue a delinquent customer in Colorado.
  • Colorado law allows judgment-creditors to place a lien on judgment-debtors' property.
  • Colorado is not a community property state.

Can My Spouse's Credit Card Issuer Place a Lien on Property We Own Jointly?

We have approximately $60,000 in credit card debt all in my spouse's name. Some accounts were opened in New Mexico where we were married. We now live in Colorado. I have some assets in my name only. We have a financed truck & home in both our names. The home has approximately $40K of equity. Can the credit card issuer pursue assets in my name only? Can they put a lien on the truck or home? If we remove my spouse's name from the home/truck, is it safe from the lien? My spouse has no job/other assets. If there is a lien, do we owe it forever or does it fall off after SOL passes?

Here are the answers to your questions about a credit card issuer filing a lawsuit against you or your spouse, and it placing a lien on your property:

Can the credit card issuer pursue assets in my spouse’s name only?

You mentioned Colorado. When it comes to family law, Colorado is a common law state and not a community property state. In common law states, each spouse’s assets and liabilities are considered separate. A creditor may collect a delinquent debt from the spouse who signed the contract, and not the non-signing spouse. If the debt is for a joint account, then the creditor may attempt to collect the debt from either or both parties.

You mentioned the account is in your spouse's name only. If the creditor were to file a lawsuit for breach of contract against your spouse, it would likely do so in your state’s state court. The court would allow the creditor to act against the cardholder but not his or her spouse if the spouse was not a joint account holder.

You mentioned the credit card agreement was signed in New Mexico, which is a community property state. In community property states, the presumption is both spouses have liability for each others debts, although there are exceptions to this rule. By contrast, in common law states, Spouse A’s debts are not Spouse B’s liabilities.

Here, it is unlikely, but possible, for the credit card issuer to file a lawsuit against you and your spouse in New Mexico or a state indicated in the credit card agreement. The chances of it filing a lawsuit in another state are small enough that you should not concern yourself about that possibility. However, if the credit card issuer files a lawsuit against you or your spouse, then consult with a lawyer immediately.

If the credit card issuer assigns the debt to a collection agent, then under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, collection agents may file a lawsuit in your spouse’s state court only.

Can they put a lien on our truck or home?

For real property, the short answer is "yes." This answer is true in most states, including Colorado. The creditor needs to take several steps before it has the legal right to place a lien on the debtor’s property. Assuming a credit card issuer or its collection agent files a lawsuit against your spouse and he or she does not mount an effective defense, and the court awards the issuer or collection agent a judgment, then the judgment-creditor may file a wage garnishment, account levy, or lien on the judgment-debtor or his/her property.

I am unable to find any Colorado statutes allowing a judgment-creditor to place a lien on a vehicle . A lay Web site with some authority claims judgment liens are not allowed on vehicles owned by Colorado residents. Consult with a Colorado lawyer to learn a precise answer to this question.

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If we remove his name from the home or truck, is it safe from the lien?

Probably, if the credit card company or the collection agent does not challenge the transaction. If you transfer the titles well in advance of a trial, it is unlikely the plaintiff would claim the transfer was designed as a scheme to deprive it of a remedy.

If there is a lien, do we owe it forever or does it fall off after SOL passes?

Each state has its own lien laws. In general for real property such as a house or commercial property, a lien will remain in the chain of title until the court notifies the county recorder of a satisfaction of the judgment, or the court orders the lien removed. I am not aware of any state that has liens with expiration dates. However, I am not an expert on Colorado law. Consult with a Colorado lawyer about this question to learn a precise answer.

Recommendation

Consider debt settlement or bankruptcy to resolve the debt.

I hope this information helps you Find. Learn & Save.

Best,

Bill

Bills.com

Debt statistics

If you are struggling with debt, you are not alone. According to the NY Federal Reserve total household debt as of Quarter Q4 2023 was $17.503 trillion. Student loan debt was $1.601 trillion and credit card debt was $1.129 trillion.

According to data gathered by Urban.org from a sample of credit reports, about 26% of people in the US have some kind of debt in collections. The median debt in collections is $1,739. Student loans and auto loans are common types of debt. Of people holding student debt, approximately 10% had student loans in collections. The national Auto/Retail debt delinquency rate was 4%.

The amount of debt and debt in collections vary by state. For example, in Missouri, 29% have any kind of debt in collections and the median debt in collections is $1775. Medical debt is common and 16% have that in collections. The median medical debt in collections is $767.

To maintain an excellent credit score it is vital to make timely payments. However, there are many circumstances that lead to late payments or debt in collections. The good news is that there are a lot of ways to deal with debt including debt consolidation and debt relief solutions.

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