No consumer is prevented from acquiring credit solely based on marital status. The Equal Opportunity Credit Act outlaws discrimination of all forms to provide consumers with equal access to credit resources. If you recently experienced a divorce, however, your credit score may be negatively impacted after you separate from your spouse.

One of the major casualties of divorce is the damage incurred to both party’s credit. Not only do you incur the expense of divorce proceedings and attorneys, but divorce can send you spiraling into bankruptcy. Until your former spouse’s information is completely irradiated from your credit file, his or her mistakes with money can also reflect on your credit score. This is why it is advisable to take the following steps sooner rather than later.