Getting Lights After Divorce in Texas: Who Pays What & How to Protect Your Credit

Brad Gregory

Consumer Advocate

I make sure light companies treat you right. When you don't know your rights, they take advantage. I fix that.

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Last updated: February 12, 2026

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The divorce decree says your ex pays the light bill. But your credit score just dropped 80 points. The light company says you both signed the contract, so they can bill either one of you. Your lawyer didn't explain this part.

Here's what Texas law actually says, how to protect yourself, and how to get lights in your name only — no matter what your ex does.

Why Divorce Creates Utility Nightmares

When you got married, you probably didn't think about who signed the light contract. One of you called the company, they asked for names and Social Security numbers for the credit check, and you both agreed. That signature created a joint legal obligation that survives the divorce.

The problem: Name on the account does not equal financial responsibility once the divorce is finalized. The court divides debts in the decree. The light company does not care what the decree says. They have a contract with both of you.

What Happens to Joint Utility Accounts in Divorce

• Both names stay on the account until someone requests a change in writing
• Both people are liable for any unpaid balance, regardless of who stayed in the house
• Late payments hit both credit reports if the account goes delinquent
• Collections agencies can pursue either person for the full amount owed
• Divorce decrees do not override contracts with utility providers

This is why people discover credit damage months or years after the divorce is final. Your ex stopped paying. The company reported the account to collections. Your score dropped. You found out when you tried to rent an apartment or finance a car.

Texas Law on Marital Debt: Whose Responsibility After Divorce?

Texas is a community property state. During the marriage, utility bills are community debts. Both spouses are responsible, regardless of whose name is on the account.

After the divorce, Texas Family Code requires courts to divide community debts "in a just and right manner." This does not mean 50/50. It means the judge looks at income, who is staying in the house, and who can afford to pay.

What the Divorce Decree Actually Does

The decree assigns responsibility between you and your ex. If the decree says your ex pays the light bill, you can take them back to court if they do not pay. The judge can hold them in contempt or order them to reimburse you.

But the decree does not change your contract with the light company. Texas Law Help explains: "A creditor's right to collect a debt is not affected by your Final Decree of Divorce." This means if the judge orders your spouse to pay a debt that is in both your names but your spouse does not pay it, the creditor can still seek payment from you.

Temporary Orders During the Divorce

Texas judges frequently issue temporary orders during the divorce process that specify who pays which bills while the case is pending. These orders prevent one spouse from cutting off utilities or running up debt the other will be stuck with.

If you have a temporary order that says your ex pays the light bill, they are legally required to do so until the divorce is finalized. If they stop paying, you can file a motion for enforcement.

Who Pays What: Common Scenarios

How to Separate Utility Accounts After Divorce

Separating utility accounts is not automatic. You have to request it. The process varies slightly by company, but the basic steps are the same.

Step-by-Step Account Separation Process

What If Your Ex Refuses to Cooperate?

Some light companies require both account holders to agree to remove one name. If your ex refuses to sign, you have options:

• Ask the company for an exception. Provide a copy of the divorce decree showing you moved out and explaining that you are no longer living at the address. Some companies will remove your name based on this alone.
• File a motion for enforcement. If the decree says your ex must remove your name and they refuse, your lawyer can file a motion asking the judge to order them to comply.
• Start a new account at your new address. You are not stuck. Open a pay-as-you-go account in your name only. This gives you a clean break and protects your credit going forward.
• Contact the Texas Public Utility Commission. File a complaint if the light company refuses to remove your name despite proof that you moved out and the decree assigns the debt to your ex.

Special Case: You Are Staying, Your Ex Is Leaving

If you are keeping the house and your ex's name is on the light account, you can start new service in your name at the same address. You will need to prove you live there (divorce decree, lease, or landlord letter works).

The light company will close the old account (your ex's) and open a new one under your name. If there is an unpaid balance on the old account, you are not responsible for it unless the divorce decree says you are. The company may place a "switch hold" on the meter until the old balance is paid, but you can submit a New Occupant Statement to remove the hold and start fresh.

Credit Damage: How to Protect Yourself and Fix What's Broken

Utility companies report delinquent accounts to credit bureaus. Experian warns that a utility bill in your name can cause significant credit damage if it goes unpaid. Late payments, collections, and charge-offs can lower your score by 60-100+ points and stay on your report for 7 years.

Common Credit Damage Scenarios

How to Dispute Utility Charges on Your Credit Report

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau provides sample dispute letters you can use to challenge inaccurate information on your credit report. Here's how to use them:

Credit Freeze: Stop Your Ex from Opening New Accounts

If you are concerned your ex might use your Social Security number to open new utility accounts (or other accounts) without your permission, freeze your credit at all three bureaus:

• Equifax: equifax.com/personal/credit-report-services/credit-freeze/
• Experian: experian.com/freeze/center.html
• TransUnion: transunion.com/credit-freeze

Freezing your credit is free. It prevents anyone (including you) from opening new credit accounts until you unfreeze it with a PIN. This stops identity theft and fraudulent account openings.

Prepaid Lights: The Clean-Slate Solution

If you want a clean break — no shared accounts, no dependence on your ex, no risk to your credit — pay-as-you-go lights are the fastest path.

Why Prepaid Works for Fresh Starts

• No credit check. Your credit history does not matter. Even if your score tanked during the divorce, you can still get approved.
• Your name only. No one else signs. No one else is on the account. You control it completely.
• No deposit required. Traditional post-pay plans require $150-$300 deposits for credit scores below 650. Prepaid skips that entirely.
• No risk to your credit. Prepaid accounts do not report to credit bureaus, so if you run into financial trouble, your score will not drop.
• Start with $40-$60. Most companies let you begin service with a small initial payment, then you add money as you use it.
• Same-day connection. Smart meters enable same-day service if you enroll before 2-3PM (cutoff varies by provider). Most connections complete within 4 hours.

The Trade-Off: Rates Are Higher

Prepaid rates are typically 1-3 cents per kWh higher than traditional plans. For a 1,000 kWh month, that is an extra $10-$30. But you avoid deposits, protect your credit, and get complete control.

If you rebuild your credit over the next 6-12 months, you can switch to a traditional plan later. Think of prepaid as a bridge — not forever, just for now.

Legal Recourse: When to Involve a Lawyer or Go Back to Court

If your ex is not following the divorce decree — not paying bills they were ordered to pay, refusing to remove their name, or running up debt you are stuck with — you have legal options.

Court Enforcement of Divorce Decree

Your lawyer can file a Motion for Enforcement asking the judge to order your ex to comply with the decree. If the decree says your ex pays the light bill and they stopped paying, the judge can:

• Order them to pay the overdue balance
• Order them to reimburse you if you paid it to protect your credit
• Hold them in contempt of court (which can result in fines or jail time)
• Order them to remove their name from joint accounts
• Award you attorney's fees for having to file the motion

When to Hire a Lawyer

You may not need a lawyer for simple account separation. But consider hiring one if:

• Your ex owes more than $1,000 in unpaid utility bills assigned to them in the decree
• Your credit score has dropped significantly due to your ex's non-payment
• Your ex refuses to remove their name or cooperate with account separation
• You are facing collections or lawsuits from utility companies
• Your ex opened new accounts in your name without permission (identity theft)

Many family law attorneys offer free consultations. Bring your divorce decree, utility bills, and credit reports. Ask about enforcement motions and whether your situation justifies the legal fees.

Free Legal Help in Texas

If you cannot afford a lawyer, these organizations provide free or low-cost legal assistance:

• Texas Legal Services Center: tlsc.org — Free legal help for low-income Texans
• Lone Star Legal Aid: lonestarlegal.org — Family law, consumer debt, and credit issues
• Texas Law Help: texaslawhelp.org — Self-help forms, guides, and lawyer referrals
• State Bar of Texas Lawyer Referral: texasbar.com — $20 consultation with local attorney

Template Letters: What to Send to Providers and Credit Bureaus

Use these templates to request account separation, dispute credit errors, and protect yourself. Customize the bracketed sections with your information. Send via certified mail with return receipt.

Template 1: Request to Remove Name from Utility Account

[Your Name]
[Your Current Address]
[City, State ZIP]
[Phone Number]
[Email Address]

[Date]

[Utility Company Name]
Customer Service Department
[Company Address]
[City, State ZIP]

Re: Request to Remove Name from Account #[Account Number]

Dear Customer Service,

I am writing to request that my name be removed from the utility account listed above. I am no longer living at the service address and am not responsible for future charges.

I have attached the following documentation:
- Certified copy of my Final Decree of Divorce (filed [Date])
- Proof of my new address ([lease/utility bill/bank statement])
- Copy of my government-issued ID

The divorce decree assigns ongoing responsibility for this account to my former spouse, [Ex's Name]. I moved out of the service address on [Move-Out Date] and have not lived there since.

Please remove my name from this account effective immediately. Send written confirmation to my current address listed above within 10 business days. If you require additional information, contact me at [Phone Number].

Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter.

Sincerely,

[Your Signature]
[Your Printed Name]
        

Template 2: Credit Bureau Dispute Letter

[Your Name]
[Your Current Address]
[City, State ZIP]
[Phone Number]
[Date of Birth]
[Last 4 Digits of SSN]

[Date]

[Credit Bureau Name - Equifax/Experian/TransUnion]
[Bureau Address]
[City, State ZIP]

Re: Dispute of Inaccurate Information on Credit Report

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am writing to dispute the following information on my credit report. I have circled the items I dispute on the attached copy of my report.

[Utility Company Name] — Account #[Account Number]
Reason for Dispute: These charges were incurred after I moved out of the service address on [Move-Out Date]. My divorce decree assigns responsibility for this account to my former spouse. I am not responsible for charges after [Date].

Enclosed are copies of the following documents supporting my dispute:
- Certified copy of Final Decree of Divorce (filed [Date])
- Proof of move-out date ([lease at new address/utility bills at new address])
- Statement from landlord confirming move-in date at new address

I request that you investigate this matter and remove the disputed information from my credit report. Please send me written confirmation of the results of your investigation.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Sincerely,

[Your Signature]
[Your Printed Name]
        

Template 3: Letter to Ex Requesting Account Switch (When Safe)

[Your Name]
[Your Current Address]
[City, State ZIP]

[Date]

[Ex's Name]
[Ex's Address]
[City, State ZIP]

Re: Utility Account Transfer — [Utility Company Name], Account #[Account Number]

Dear [Ex's Name],

As outlined in our divorce decree filed on [Date], you are responsible for the utility account at [Service Address]. My name is still listed on this account, which creates financial liability for me.

I am requesting that you contact [Utility Company Name] at [Phone Number] and arrange to have my name removed from the account by [Date — 30 days from now]. You will need to provide them with a copy of the divorce decree and pass a credit check to transfer the account to your name only.

If you do not complete this transfer by [Date], I will file a motion for enforcement with the court and may also contact the utility company directly to request removal of my name based on the decree.

Please confirm receipt of this letter by [Date — 7 days from now].

Thank you for your cooperation.

Sincerely,

[Your Signature]
[Your Printed Name]