My Spouse Is a Gambling Addict; how Can I Keep Him from Stealing my Kids’ Identities

Addiction sucks, and it’s broken up more marriages than I can count.

Gambling is the second fastest growing addiction in America (porn addiction is #1). Gambling addiction can be really bad because it, by definition, wastes so much of a family’s income.

While drugs can drain resources almost as fast as gambling, usually drug addicts find a way to keep the money aspect of things under some sort of control. Not so with gambling addicts. They bankrupt their families all the time.

People often deal with being married to a gambling addict by divorcing that gambling addict. They assume that will end their money problems because they won’t have to endure their ex’s behavior any more.

I wish that were true.

One tactic gamblers use to feed their addiction is by stealing other people’s identities. And when a gambler has kids, those kids are easy targets for identity theft.

Here are a few suggestions to keep your kids and their identities safe from a gambling addict.

  1. “Freeze” your kids’ credit reports.

When you put a “credit security freeze” on a credit account, it means no one can pull your credit report and score. If creditors cannot see a credit score, they will often (not always, oddly enough) deny a credit application. This means if you ex tried to open a credit card in your child’s name, the credit card company wouldn’t be able to run a credit check. This means there’s a much higher likelihood that your ex wouldn’t be able to open the credit card.

To put a credit security freeze on your kids’ accounts, you will need to contact all the major credit bureaus and work with them to initiate the process.

  1. Purchase identity theft insurance.

Another great idea to keep your kids’ identity safe is to purchase identity theft insurance.

There are some places that sell credit monitoring services, but those don’t do much. Essentially, they tell you when your identity has been stolen (gee, thanks).

By contrast, identity theft insurance will help you not only monitor your credit reports, but will also pay someone to fix everything if your identity is stolen. (It can take tens or hundreds of hours talking to banks and credit companies to set everything straight after identity theft occurs. Having someone do that for you is a lifesaver.)

This insurance is very inexpensive. Zander Insurance has a great plan with up to $1 million in coverage for peanuts.

  1. Tell your ex that if anything ever happens to the kids’ identities, you’ll go to the police and the FBI.

Yes, I know, I’m telling you to threaten your ex. I don’t normally suggest that sort of thing, but if you suspect your gambling addict ex will steal your kids’ identities, go ahead and threaten.

Identity theft is a crime. It’s certainly a state crime, and since it almost always involves dealing with institutions in other states, it’s almost always a federal crime as well.

This means you can go to the local police as well as the FBI. Let your ex you’ll be doing both if your kids’ identities are stolen.

Protect Your Money And Your Family

We remove fear associated with divorce, protect your money & maximize time with your kids!

We're here to help. Let's determine your best options.

Call Us 24//7 at 801-685-9999 to Speak with a Live Representative

Utah Divorce FAQs
Top 100 Divorce Blog
What Clients Are Saying…
BrownLaw icon
Excellent
Brown Family Law
Based on 997 reviews
Nick Schwarz, a fantastic attorney, incredibly knowledgeable and caring. Wonderful attitude with clients. Highly responsive, and acts quickly. Never leaves you hanging.
Daniel Young and Carren Leavitt were excellent to work with. It was a very difficult process for me on a personal level and they walked me through each step to a successful outcome I’m very happy with .
Response from the owner:Thank you so much. Glad we could help.
David Handy and his team were fantastic in helping me navigate custody time with my daughter. He gave the me reassurance and encouragement I needed with each step and I couldn't be more grateful to him! Thanks David!
I can’t recommend Nick Schwarz enough. He really cares about his clients, goes above and beyond to exceed expectations and he does extra research to offer insights no one else would think of. I’ve worked with him on several projects in the past and he’s always both very impressive and intrinsically creative. Would recommend him to anyone.
Nick Schwarz and I were colleagues and he is extremely thoughtful and cared about clients. He is an excellent attorney and an even better person. He will make an excellent addition to any case.
Dani is the best paralegal I know. Clear communication, professional, and intelligent.
Paul Waldron offers a competent and mindful approach to navigating family law. Thank you Paul for being an asset in our community that we can all depend on.
Truly so grateful for the care and expertise of Brown Family Law. (Specifically Carren and Daniel) I’ve been going through a really difficult time, and having legal support met with such kindness and understanding meant the world to me. They not only provided excellent guidance, but also made me feel seen and supported. I will always refer people here and am so grateful for the compassion I experienced.
I cannot recommend Attorney Nicholas Schwarz highly enough! He is extremely professional, responsive, and truly dedicated to his clients. What sets Nick apart is not only his deep knowledge of the law, but also the genuine care and compassion he shows for his clients. He takes the time to explain everything clearly, answer questions promptly, and make you feel supported throughout the entire process. If you’re looking for someone who will fight for you while keeping your best interests at heart, Nick is your person!
Nick Schwarz is an outstanding attorney who combines sharp legal skills with genuine care for his clients. He is professional, attentive, and deeply committed to helping families through challenging times. I highly recommend him.
yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7

Categories

Related Posts