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Debt as important as HIV status, says expert

Cape Town - Couples go into marriages nowadays asking each other about their HIV status, but never talk about their debt or financial status, said Karen Augustyn, debt counsellor at the Cape Debt Clinic.

She said nobody gets into a marriage with the plan of getting out of the marriage at any stage, but it is important to talk about money.

"If married in community of property, the two estates are joined, so you are responsible for each others' debt... and you cannot get out of that."

Referring to a consumer she's currently dealing with, Augustyn said she is facing divorce and the husband refuses to go under debt review, "which will truly help them".

A couple cannot go under debt review if both parties do not agree to it.

"This lady will for a good few months, until the divorce is finalised, struggle to pay her debt, struggle with the emotions of going through a divorce ... losing the house and all the security they do have.

"She can only apply for debt review after she's gone through the divorce... in the meantime she'd have accumulated quite a bit of debt..."

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- Fin24

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