It's fairly common for the judge to divide up the debt during a divorce, or assign a particular debt to one spouse or the other. If you're the spouse who did not receive this lovely parting gift, you may think you're off the hook for the bill.

"Your divorce agreement does not change your obligations to your creditors," according to Capital One, a major credit card provider, "and you will be held accountable should your spouse fail to make a payment on a bill that he/she agreed to pay in your name."

But you may not be. If this was a joint account-or if you live in a community property state-you may be liable for the debt, no matter what the judge said.

Unless you and your ex speak honestly about these financial matters, you may never know there's an issue until creditors come after you because your former spouse is late with the payments.