Being proactive about a situation never hurt any
relationship, but instead has made the communication lines stronger. You should order copies of both of your credit reports, then sit down and have an honest conversation that outlines the when and how your partner got themselves into a jam. After having a heart to heart, try to enlist the help of a professional, and consolidate your debt. You may cut down on future strains and arguments if you have an expert that can tell you the truth without trying to sugarcoat things. If you or your spouse starts to be unable to see eye to eye on a situation, you will have your debt manager's number on hand to defer the argument to.
