In general, collection laws are fairly straightforward regarding who is and is not responsible for repaying delinquent debts. If you incurred the debt, you’re responsible. If you didn’t, a creditor usually can't hold you liable for repayment. In community property states, however, the person who incurred the debt and the individual responsible for repaying it aren’t necessarily the same person.
How Community Property States Work
Community property states consider all assets obtained within the duration of a marriage to be the joint property of the married couple – regardless of which spouse earned the income or signed for the asset. Community property laws don’t typically come into play unless a couple chooses to divorce.
In some community property states, debts, as well as assets, are considered the property of both spouses. Thus, your spouse could incur a credit card debt you weren’t even aware of, yet your state’s community property status leaves you just as responsible as your spouse for paying off the card balance.