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<p>Law Office of<br>
<strong>F.ANDREKITA SILVA</strong><br>
<strong>____________________________________________ </strong><br>
<br>
June 28, 2021<br>
<br>
Diane,<br>
<br>
Unless Wife was awarded a judgment which has not yet been paid, she may not have a great remedy available.<br>
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When the court allocates debt, the final decree ordinarily has “hold harmless” provisions. If the obligated spouse doesn’t pay a debt, and the creditor goes after non-obligated spouse, if non-obligated spouse pays the creditor’s demand, or is sued and garnished, etc. then the non-obligated spouse can go back to court in the dissolution case and ask for a judgment against the obligated spouse.<br>
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Unless this is a small credit card debt, this can be a useless remedy. If the obligated spouse had the means to pay the mortgage, they probably wouldn’t have let a house go into foreclosure, etc.<br>
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Presumably, husband was awarded the home because he appeared to have the financial strength at the time of the order to make the payments. In a divorce, if neither party looks like they can buy out the other or make the payments, the court will order the home to be sold and the equity divided. <br>
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When a home IS awarded to one or the other, once title vests in the spouse to receive the real property, the court loses it's authority to order a sale. <br>
Unless the failure to pay money is related to support, then contempt isn't an option. <br>
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To avoid harm to the spouse that didn't receive the home for debt non payment, there should be a provision requiring the party who was awarded the home to refinance within a certain amount of time. It looks like this decree didn’t have such a provision?<br>
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Basically, the non obligated spouse has limited options. They can negotiate a resolution with the obligated spouse to lend money in exchange for a lien on the home and contract and/ or modification of the decree to include provisions that SHOULD have been included in the original decree.<br>
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If the obligated spouse plans on letting the home foreclose, if the non obligated spouse has the financial ability, they can enter into an agreement/ contract to take over payments and sell the home to avoid bad credit (worse credit).<br>
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If the non obligated spouse can’t afford to bail out the other, and if the home forecloses, then they live with bad credit. Although, they can explain on credit report that other side was ordered to pay, etc. That may or may not help them. <br>
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If when you say the obligated spouse “defaulted”, you just meant they made some late payments, then non- obligated spouse should see this as an opportunity to take proactive steps to avoid a more dire situation. They can try to secure a voluntary contract from obligated spouse that lays out what happens in the event of late payments, etc. <br>
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It seems like I once read a case where a non obligated spouse made mortgage payments before a demand was ever made by the creditor. Since the decree didn’t say payments couldn’t be late and/ or that non-obligated could pay before a creditor demand was made, the court said “that was a gift.” <br>
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A court can't read provisions into a decree that aren't there. Since a default can be envisioned, it wouldn't be a change in circumstances to support modification of the decree. So, I’m not aware that the court has the authority to order a modification or a remedy other than indemnification.<br>
<br>
andrekita<br>
Law Office of F. Andrekita Silva<br>
1325 Fourth Avenue, Suite 2000<br>
Seattle, Washington 98101<br>
206-224-8288<br>
www.seattle-silvalaw.com<br>
<br>
----- Forwarded message from Candace Wilkerson <<a href="mailto:cwilkerson@wongfleming.com">cwilkerson@wongfleming.com</a>> -----<br>
Date: Mon, 28 Jun 2021 20:47:15 +0000<br>
From: Candace Wilkerson <<a href="mailto:cwilkerson@wongfleming.com">cwilkerson@wongfleming.com</a>><br>
Reply-To: WSBA Probate & Trust Listserv <<a href="mailto:wsbapt@lists.wsbarppt.com">wsbapt@lists.wsbarppt.com</a>><br>
Subject: Re: [WSBAPT] Divorce/Enforcement of Property Settlement<br>
To: WSBA Probate & Trust Listserv <<a href="mailto:wsbapt@lists.wsbarppt.com">wsbapt@lists.wsbarppt.com</a>><br>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Hi Diane,</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Our firm has several attorneys who might be able to help. The PC can call our office and ask for a free initial consult (425-869-4040).</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Best,</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Candace</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><i>*Candace is available to respond to emails and phone calls between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. If you have an urgent matter outside that time period, please call our office at the number below.</i></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b>From:</b> wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com <wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com> <b>On Behalf Of</b> Diane J. Kiepe<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Monday, June 28, 2021 4:14 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> WSBA Probate & Trust Listserv <wsbapt@lists.wsbarppt.com><br>
<b>Subject:</b> [WSBAPT] Divorce/Enforcement of Property Settlement</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">Any names that you can share in the area of Divorce/property settlement issues would be greatly appreciated. Divorce decree provided for husband to reside in primary residence and pay mortgage. He is in default and ex-spouse still has name on loan so understandably concerned. I’d be worthless for her so I’m hoping you all can share an east siders name.</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style='font-family:"Script MT Bold"'>Diane J. Kiepe</span></i></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Diane J. Kiepe</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Douglas Eden</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">717 W. Sprague Ave.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Suite 1500</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Spokane, WA 99201</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="mailto:djkiepe@depdslaw.com">djkiepe@depdslaw.com</a></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">509-455-5300</p>
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----- End forwarded message -----</p>
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