I'm worried that because most of our stuff is joint, although he is primary that I'll get drug down the black hole of financial ruin becuase he's not wanting to pay until I get out of the house.
[color:"blue"] Although divorce laws vary by state, one thing is pretty constant, and that is this: Joint property is joint property, for good or bad. In your case, it's bad, and you are very right to be concerned. You need to talk to an attorney ASAP. Do not take your H's word that he will make a payment or 'absolve you of the debt'. Depending on the amount of joint debts/assets, this could add up very quickly and yes, the creditors WILL come after you. This could even happen AFTER you get divorced, because of time variances, lost paperwork, etc. My advice:
1) Write a list of every piece of personal property/credit card that you own, even if you think it's not joint (because it could be joint w/o you knowing it, or you could be the guarantor to his ownership)
2) Get a copy of your own credit report. These are available pretty cheaply on the internet these days.
3) If you are still in the same house, get a copy of his credit report too, if possible. [/color]
Not knowing your personal situation, are some of the past-due bills things to do with your kids, or household expenses, or something else altogether? You can possibly waylay certain creditors/utilities by telling them your situation; sometimes there is a little leeway if they know you're going through a divorce situation.
