No, you don't become legally responsible for any debt you didn't sign for (that's true for your parents as well as your spouse). However, in the event of a div

No, you don't become legally responsible for any debt you didn't sign for (that's true for your parents as well as your spouse). However, in the event of a divorce, the court will divide up the debts as well as the assets and assign them to both parties. This is certainly fair for debts that were incurred during the time the couple was married. Debts incurred before the marriage would be handled like assets brought into the marriage; in general, an effort will be made by the court to restore individuals to their pre-marriage state. That said, marriage is about two people joining their lives together into one, and that means combining your financial lives as well. That means it's our income, our cars, our debt. Disagreement about money is one of the leading causes of divorce. In separating your finances, you are prone to living more like roommates than a married couple.