Your Partner and Your IVA, Question by Question
What an IVA does, and does not, mean for your partner.
Do IVAs affect my partner?
Mostly, no, your IVA is yours. An IVA only deals with debts in your own name, and your partner is not responsible for it or for paying into it. Their finances are separate from yours in the eyes of the arrangement. The main exceptions are where you share debts or accounts, or where household income is considered to work out a fair budget, which we explain below.
Is my partner liable for my debts?
Not for debts in your sole name. Your partner does not become responsible for debts that are yours alone, simply because you live together or are married. Those debts, and the IVA dealing with them, belong to you. The only debts your partner is liable for are ones in their name, or joint debts you both took out together.
Will my IVA affect my partner's credit score?
Only if you are financially linked. Your IVA appears on your credit file, not your partner's. Their score is affected only where you are 'financially associated', usually through joint debts, a joint loan or a joint bank account. If you have no joint credit, your partner's credit file is unaffected by your IVA. Many couples choose to keep some finances separate for this reason.
What about joint debts?
Both of you remain fully liable. A joint debt is owed in full by each of you, so if you include your share in your IVA, the creditor can still pursue your partner for the whole balance. This can affect your partner's credit and finances. Because of this, joint debts need careful thought, and advice, before deciding how to deal with them in an IVA.
Is my partner's income taken into account?
Yes, but only to share household costs fairly. When working out what you can afford, your supervisor looks at total household income to apportion shared bills, like rent, utilities and food, between you and your partner. This is about splitting joint costs reasonably, not about your partner contributing to your IVA. Their income is not used to increase what you pay beyond your fair share.
Does my partner have to pay into my IVA?
No. Your partner is never required to pay into your IVA. The arrangement is funded from your own disposable income. While household income is considered to divide shared expenses, your partner's money is theirs. They may choose to help, but there is no obligation, and the IVA is calculated around what you, not they, can afford.
Could my partner do an IVA too?
Yes, if they also have debts. Where both partners have debts, they can each have their own IVA, sometimes set up alongside each other as 'interlocking' IVAs that account for shared costs between them. This is common for couples both struggling with debt. Each arrangement is still individual, but they can be coordinated. An adviser can explain whether this suits your situation.
Are my partner's assets at risk?
No, their own assets are protected. Assets that belong solely to your partner, their car, their savings, possessions in their name, are not part of your IVA and cannot be taken for your debts. Only your own assets and your share of anything jointly owned are relevant. Your partner's separate property stays entirely theirs throughout your arrangement.
Should I get advice?
Yes, particularly if you share debts or accounts. A free, impartial adviser can explain exactly how your IVA would affect your partner, especially around joint debts, joint accounts and household budgeting, so you both know where you stand. For most couples the impact is limited, but getting clear, tailored advice avoids misunderstandings. It costs nothing and protects you both.
