Getting Married: How It Affects Your Credit Score

Marriage does not merge your credit score with your spouse's, since credit bureaus track individuals by Social Security number, not marital status. What can change your credit after the wedding is the financial behavior you take on together, like opening joint accounts or cosigning loans.

At a Glance

• Individual credit reports and scores stay separate after marriage, by law
• Joint credit cards and loans show up on both spouses' credit reports equally
• Community property states may treat marital debt as shared, even on one name
• Adding a spouse as an authorized user can lift a weaker credit profile
• Payment history drives 35 percent of a credit score, the single biggest factor

Why Your Credit Score Doesn't Change on Your Wedding Day

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