When you and your partner get married, it’s not uncommon to share nearly everything with your spouse. Your lives will become intertwined, from sharing a last name to creating a joint bank account. Though you may not think twice about sharing personal information, it’s important to understand that this sensitive information can be mishandled. If you discover that your spouse has stolen your identity, you may be at a loss. These circumstances are incredibly complicated, so you’ll want to keep reading to learn what steps to mitigate damages, how to protect your identity in the future, and why connecting with a San Diego County domestic identity theft lawyer is in your best interest.
What Steps Should I Take If My Spouse Tries to Use My Identity?
Spousal identity theft is a form of identity theft that occurs when your spouse is the perpetrator. They may attempt to open accounts, take out loans, or open cards in your name without your consent. Unfortunately, spouses have easier access to your sensitive information, like your Social Security Number, making it easier for them to commit theft.
If you believe your spouse has used your identity for financial or other purposes, understanding your legal options is critical. Generally, the first thing you’ll want to do is contact the credit reporting agencies to request a fraud alert or credit freeze. A fraud alert requires creditors to confirm your identity before opening a new account, while a freeze prevents anyone from accessing your report. Depending on your circumstances, you’ll pick the option that’s best for you to help deter any additional information from impacting your report.
Next, you’ll want to contact your financial institutions and creditors to inform them of your circumstances. This allows you to place freezes on any impacted accounts and prevent payments from leaving your account. For example, if your spouse accessed your savings in an attempt to transfer money, the bank can help you cancel these transactions to minimize damages. Additionally, they can assist you in securing your account.
What Can I Do to Protect Myself in the Future?
Finding out your spouse has stolen your identity can be an incredibly upsetting matter, as this is a major violation of your trust. As such, there are steps you can take to help protect yourself in the future. Generally, you’ll want to review your credit reports to ensure the information in them is correct. Additionally, you’ll want to store sensitive documents in a secure location and shred them if they are no longer needed.
Discovering your spouse has violated your trust by stealing your identity can be incredibly upsetting. That’s why it’s imperative to connect with an experienced attorney who can help you reclaim your identity. Trying to mitigate damages on your own can be complex, so letting the team at Barthel Legal assist you is in your best interest. Connect with our team today to learn how we can guide you through these complicated times.
