A divorce can leave things a real mess. Not only do you have to deal with the emotional strain, financial strain and the anger and other emotions you're left with - but you also have to find a way to untangle the mess that is left behind. For instance, your bad credit! While it's easy to ignore the fact that there's a problem, bad credit can make it really hard to move on and start over. This article discusses how to clean up your bad credit after your divorce.

Obtain a Copy of Your Credit Report -

The first thing you need to know is what your credit looks like. Which bills are going against your credit? Are they even supposed to be there? You can find this information by getting a copy of your credit report. You're entitled to one free credit report per year. You can write and request a copy of your report from the three major credit bureaus, Experian, Equifax and TransUnion. You can also visit online credit monitoring sites such as www.freecreditreport.com. When you get the copy of your credit report, you're able to go over the things against you to determine what you owe and what doesn't need to be there.

Dispute Any Reports That Don't Belong to You -

If there are any bills on your credit report that you've already paid or that don't belong to you - you need to dispute them. You can write to each credit bureau and tell them why the bills are not yours, or supply them with receipts where you have paid those bills off. There are many incidents of reports against people who they don't actually belong to, so pay close attention to your report. Even when you pay off an old debt that was against your credit, you have to write all three credit bureaus and let them know that the bill has been paid and give them the receipts to prove it.

Start Paying off Each Bill That is Against Your Credit -

While most people would think that you should start with the oldest bills, you should actually start with the newest bills. The reason is that the records on your credit report drop off after 7 to 10 years. If you have several bills that are close to dropping off your report, you can handle those with the companies rather than worrying about them right away. Instead, focus on the newer bills and the ones with the highest interest. Cut down on your unnecessary spending at home and save all your extra money to pay off those bills. This will help you get them paid more quickly so that your credit rating goes up. You can also use one credit card to pay for things you already have the money for. Pay it off in its entirety each month and you will build your credit back up.

By using these methods, you can effectively clean up your credit report after a divorce and get back to normal. This will help you in the future when you go to purchase a home or a car. Without a good credit rating, you may not be able to get financed. Follow the tips to help you on your way to a good credit rating and a new life.