Consumer Proposals After Divorce or Separation

Consumer Proposals After Divorce or Separation

A consumer proposal can help you manage debt after a divorce or separation by lowering what you owe, stopping interest, and giving you one affordable payment.

Consumer Proposals: Divorce or Separation

A consumer proposal after divorce or separation is often the best way to manage debt when two households are suddenly living on the same income that once supported one.

Many people face credit card balances, joint loans, or bills left behind after the breakup, and a proposal can reduce what you owe and make repayment realistic.

This creates stability during a stressful time and gives you a plan to rebuild financially on your own.

Why Debt Becomes Difficult After a Breakup

When a relationship ends, the financial impact can be as stressful as the emotional one. Many people discover that debts they managed together are overwhelming when paid alone.

Debt becomes hard to manage after a separation when:

  • Household income drops suddenly, but the debts remain the same.
  • One partner stops contributing to joint loans or shared credit cards.
  • Legal costs, moving expenses, and new housing increase monthly pressure.
  • Joint accounts remain active, causing confusion about who should pay what.
  • Old arguments about money resurface, making communication difficult.

A consumer proposal helps by replacing uncertainty with a clear, legal plan that fits your new budget.

How a Consumer Proposal Reduces Post-Separation Debt

A proposal lets you settle unsecured debts for less than you owe and spread repayment over up to five years. This can make a major difference when you are adjusting to life after separation.

A proposal helps by:

  • Cutting the total amount you owe, often to around 30% of the balance.
  • Eliminating all interest, preventing balances from growing while you get back on your feet.
  • Stopping collection activity from joint credit cards and unsecured loans.
  • Combining all qualifying debts into one simple monthly payment.
  • Giving you predictable payments so budgeting becomes easier.

This creates a manageable path forward and helps you rebuild independently.

What Happens to Joint Debt After Divorce or Separation

Many people are surprised to learn that banks do not honour separation agreements. Even if your ex-partner promises to pay a joint debt, the creditor will still hold both of you responsible.

A consumer proposal helps with joint debt because:

  • Your portion of the debt is settled inside the proposal.
  • Creditors cannot pursue you for the remaining joint balance.
  • Your ex-partner becomes responsible for their portion only.
  • Collectors must stop contacting you, even if the other person does not pay.
  • You gain legal protection that does not depend on your ex’s choices.

This allows you to move forward without being tied to the other person’s financial behavior.

How a Proposal Helps With Debts Created During the Breakup

The end of a relationship often leads to new debt—moving costs, legal bills, and setting up a new home.

A proposal can include these types of debt when:

  • The costs were placed on credit cards or lines of credit.
  • You borrowed to furnish a new home or pay legal fees.
  • You used credit to make ends meet during the transition.
  • Temporary living expenses forced you to use credit more than usual.
  • Your ex stopped contributing and you were left covering everything.

A proposal helps you clean up these debts and regain stability more quickly.

When a Proposal Is Better Than Trying to Split Debt

Many separating couples try to divide debt based on fairness, but creditors do not follow those agreements.

A proposal is usually the better choice when:

  • You cannot rely on your ex to pay their share of joint debt.
  • You want legal protection that does not depend on the other person.
  • Your income changed and payments are no longer affordable.
  • Stress from debt is affecting your wellbeing during the breakup.
  • Negotiating with your ex is impossible or causing conflict.

A proposal lets you separate your finances cleanly and focus on rebuilding your life.

Consumer Proposal Calculator

Worth Doing a Consumer Proposal

This consumer proposal calculator shows an approximate of how much you could save.

Let’s Get Started Today!

Insolvency Trustee Kelly Dey for Consumer Proposals

If you’re feeling overwhelmed by debt and not sure where to start, the best thing you can do is talk to someone who understands.

Call now and speak directly with me — Kelly Dey — for clear, honest advice that’s tailored to your situation. There’s no pressure and no judgment. We’ll look at your options together and create a plan that helps you breathe again. Getting started is easier than you think, and one simple conversation can put you back in control of your money and your life.

Let’s take that first step today, call 905-721-7506.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Do I have to include my ex-partner in the consumer proposal?

A. No. A proposal is filed individually, even if the debt is joint. Your ex does not participate in your filing and does not affect your approval. You are settling only your legal responsibility for the debt. The creditor may still pursue your ex for their share, but you are protected from further action.

Q. Can joint credit cards be included if my ex refuses to pay?

A. Yes. Joint credit cards, lines of credit, and loans can all be included. Even if your ex ignores the debt, you can still eliminate your portion through a proposal.

The bank must respect your filing and cannot chase you for the remaining balance, interest, or late fees.

Q. Will the proposal affect child support or spousal support?

A.No. Support payments are not part of a consumer proposal. You continue paying them as normal, and they do not impact your eligibility.

However, if your support payments reduce your available income, they help your trustee calculate an affordable monthly payment.

Q. What if my ex is threatening legal action over money?

A. A proposal cannot stop family-court issues, but it can eliminate unsecured debt that fuels those disputes. Once the proposal is filed, creditors cannot sue you for debt, freeze your bank account, or garnish your wages.

This reduces financial pressure and makes it easier to deal with family matters separately.

Q. Can I file a proposal if I already have a separation agreement?

A. Yes. Separation agreements do not prevent you from filing. In fact, many people file afterward because the agreement does not reduce debt—it only assigns who pays what.

A proposal deals with the actual debt legally, which is something a separation agreement cannot accomplish.

consumer proposal after divorce separation


Consumer Proposal Reviews - consumer proposal after divorce separation

Michelle A.

3 days ago

★★★★★ The breakup left me with joint credit cards I couldn’t manage alone. The proposal cut the debt and stopped the calls. I finally feel stable again.

Jordan P.

1 week ago

★★★★★ I was drowning after the separation. The proposal gave me affordable payments and let me move forward without depending on my ex.

Samantha W.

2 weeks ago

★★★★★ My ex stopped paying a joint loan and the bank came after me. The proposal protected me and reduced the balance. Total relief.

Craig T.

3 weeks ago

★★★★★ I took on a lot of debt setting up a new place. The proposal rolled everything together and gave me breathing room for the first time in months.

Elena M.

1 month ago

★★★★★ This service helped me rebuild after a difficult separation. My payments dropped and the stress finally went away. Highly recommended.


consumer proposal after divorce separation

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