Your credit score does not care about your relationship status. What it cares about is whether payments are being made on time. During separation, joint debts are the biggest risk - if your former partner stops paying their share of a joint mortgage or credit card, both credit files are affected.
The risks
⚠Missed payments on joint debts - even if your partner agreed to pay, a missed payment hits your credit file equally
⚠Multiple credit enquiries - shopping around for loans without a broker generates multiple hard enquiries that lower your score
⚠Defaults on forgotten accounts - joint credit cards, Afterpay accounts, or utility bills in joint names that slip through the cracks
Want to know how this applies to your situation?
Book a confidential chat with Jason or Steve. No cost, no obligation.
✓List all joint debts - mortgage, credit cards, car loans, BNPL accounts. Know exactly what exists in joint names.
✓Keep all payments current - even if you disagree about who should pay, a missed payment damages both of you. Pay now, sort out fairness later.
✓Close joint accounts - close or freeze joint credit cards and BNPL accounts to prevent further joint liability.
✓Use a broker - Lendology applies to one lender only (the right one), minimising credit enquiries. We protect your score by getting it right the first time.
Frequently asked questions
Does separation itself affect my credit score?
No - separation is not recorded on your credit file. Only missed payments, defaults, and credit enquiries affect your score. The risk comes from joint debts being mismanaged during the separation process.
How long does a missed payment stay on my credit file?
Missed payments remain on your credit file for 2 years. Defaults remain for 5 years. This is why keeping all joint payments current during separation is so important - the damage lasts long after the separation is resolved.
Can my ex-partner damage my credit score during separation?
Yes, if there are joint debts and they stop making payments.
Missed payments on any joint debt (mortgage, credit card, personal loan) appear on both credit files. A default listing remains for five years. This is why maintaining all joint debt repayments during separation is critical, even if the arrangement feels unfair.
How do I check my credit score during separation?
You can request a free credit report from Equifax, Illion, or Experian at any time.
Check your report early in the separation process to understand your baseline, then monitor it regularly. Look for any joint debts you may have forgotten about and any recent enquiries you did not authorise.
Jason Given
Director & Mortgage Broker at Lendology. MFPA designated, MFAA member. Specialises in separation finance across Australia.
We are not just explaining the process. We arrange the actual finance: refinancing into your sole name, funding a partner buyout, or setting up a new loan independently after settlement. We work with a panel of over 60 lenders to find the one that fits your situation.
The part we handle
Once the legal side of your property settlement is resolved, the next step is usually a financial one. That is where we come in.
Refinance to sole name
Moving the joint mortgage into one name so you can keep the home.
Partner buyout
Funding the equity payout to your former partner as part of the settlement.
New loan in one name
Purchasing your next property independently after settlement.
Jason and Steve also help clients with first home loans, refinancing, and investment lending at lendology.com.au.
