Credit Card Debt Now a Leading Cause of Divorce, Debt.com Finds

Rising Debt, Rising Divorces

According to Debt.com’s newly released Debt and Divorce survey, credit card debt is playing an increasingly destructive role in American marriages. The 2025 report found that 42% of divorced Americans say credit card debt or overspending contributed to their split—a steep climb from 34% in 2024 and 29% in 2023.

Debt.com’s editor-in-chief Michael Koretzky noted that while infidelity and incompatibility have long topped the list of reasons for divorce, financial strain—especially from mounting credit card balances—is quickly joining them.

Hidden Debt, Hidden Consequences

The study uncovered widespread “financial infidelity.” More than one-third of respondents admitted they or their spouse hid credit card debt during their marriage. Among Gen Z respondents, over half confessed to concealing balances. In fact, 38% of all participants believe hiding debt alone should be grounds for divorce.

Howard Dvorkin, CPA and Chairman of Debt.com, said many couples still avoid discussing finances until it’s too late. “When credit card debt goes unaddressed, it doesn’t just strain a budget—it strains a marriage,” Dvorkin said. “Our survey shows younger generations are paying the highest price for staying silent.”

A Generational Divide

The survey revealed that younger Americans are especially vulnerable. Nearly two-thirds of Gen Z respondents cited credit card debt as a contributing factor in their divorce. Millennials followed closely, while Gen X and Baby Boomers reported lower rates—though still significant.

Despite the mounting strain, 65% of participants said they never sought professional help such as credit counseling or debt management programs before filing for divorce. Many couples, the report found, continued to struggle quietly as balances grew.

Financial Fallout After Divorce

For many, divorce only deepened their financial struggles. More than half of respondents said they took on new debt following their split, with over one-quarter owing more than $10,000 in additional balances. About one-third experienced a household income drop of 25% or more within a year of divorcing.

The emotional and financial recovery process often went hand-in-hand. While 27% said they bounced back financially faster than emotionally, one in five said they were still recovering on both fronts.

A Warning—and a Wake-Up Call

Dvorkin calls the findings a “wake-up call” for couples. “Credit card debt has quietly become one of the leading homewreckers in America,” he said. “It’s not just the balances—it’s the secrecy, the stress, and the silence.”

Debt.com’s survey underscores a simple truth: financial transparency matters. Open conversations about spending, saving, and debt could prevent not only financial hardship—but the emotional cost of a broken relationship.