How to protect your property from past creditors?
Hello. I am a married California resident who is about to buy his first house. My wife has previously been married in another state. As part of her divorce decree , her ex-husband was required to continue to make payments on a car they had purchased, and other items. After the divorce, the ex-husband who was a dead beat to begin with stopped paying on everything and, among other things, the car was repossessed. Essentially he screwed up my wife's credit history after the divorce. Sad but happens. Now to the question, I am about to buy my first property in California, a community property state. My real estate broker wanted me to take title with my wife. However, I thought that myself, and the property for that matter, would be better protected if I take it in my own name. I don't want my wife's creditors, who I am sure run her name from time to time, to see that she has a property in her name and put a lien on it. Am I paranoid? What is the best course of actions?