Can a co signer sue you for not paying on a payment?

Asked by: Prof. Esperanza Collins DVM  |  Last update: May 7, 2026
Score: 4.9/5 (42 votes)

Cosigners are legally required to make payments if you can't, and they may have the power to sue you if you fail to repay your loan.

What happens if a cosigner refuses to pay?

Such a delinquency will show up on your credit report and affect your credit. You are held just as liable for the loan as the person you co-signed for. You would not only have to assume the payments but deal with your lowered credit score at the same time.

Can a co-signer take you to court?

If you're the primary borrower on a debt, your cosigner can take you to court for: Recovery of money paid: they can sue you to recover the money they've paid towards the loan. Fraud: they can sue you if you signed their name to the loan without their permission.

How can I legally get out of a cosigned loan?

lenders do not remove co signers from loans. The debt has to be retired. This can be done by paying it off directly or refinancing the loan.

What happens if you don't pay back a cosigned loan on time?

What happens if you don't pay back a cosigned loan on time? It will impact you credit score and the credit score of the parents or guardian who cosigned with you. Which resource would not have reliable information about student loans?

My Cosigner Has Stopped Paying and It's Wrecking My Credit!

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Can you sue someone for defaulting on a loan you cosigned?

But most states allow cosigners to take primary borrowers to court in the following situations: Cross claims: If you default on or fail to repay the loan, the lender could sue the cosigner for the money owed. The cosigner may then be able to sue you for the money that the lender is trying to recover.

How do I protect myself as a cosigner?

5 ways to protect yourself as a co-signer
  1. Serve as a co-signer only for close friends or relatives. One of loan co-signing's biggest risks is potential damage to your credit score. ...
  2. Keep copies of all the loan documents. ...
  3. Create a contract. ...
  4. Track monthly payments. ...
  5. Ensure you can afford payments.

What legal rights does a cosigner have?

Being a cosigner does not give you rights to the property. A cosigner has no title or ownership in the property secured for the loan. Additionally, a cosigner has no legal right to occupy a home as a primary or secondary residence, unlike the primary signer/borrower.

What happens if you default on a cosigned loan?

If you cosign a debt and the borrower doesn't pay, in most every case you will be responsible for the entire debt. And, the lender does not have to try to collect from the borrower. It can look to you even if it might be possible for it to collect from the borrower.

Can a co-signer take your car away?

Cosigners can't take possession of the vehicle they cosign for or remove the primary borrower from the loan since their name isn't on the vehicle's title.

Can a cosigner go to jail?

However, in certain legal circumstances, the cosigner may face jail time. For example, in a case where the co-signer helped to facilitate the defendant's flight, provided false contact information, or in any way assisted the defendant in evading prosecution.

Can a debt collector sue a cosigner?

If there are two people on a loan one person can't just pay their “half” and expect to be left alone. They are responsible for the full amount left owing. The creditor will typically sue both parties. If the creditor wants to, they can pick and choose which of the two “cosigners” they want to sue.

Can I kick out a co-signer?

When your credit score improves, you have the option to remove the co-signer from your loan. You can remove the co-signer by refinancing your auto loan, receiving a co-signer release or paying off the loan.

Can a cosigner have their wages garnished?

Additionally, the co-signer may need to pay attorney fees if legal action is required. Lenders can garnish the wages of co-signers. If the borrower and co-signer cannot repay a loan, the lender can sue the co-signer to garnish wages and even property in order to satisfy the repayment.

Can a cosigner take themselves off?

You can remove yourself as a co-signer, but it's not always easy. When you ask for a co-signer release, it's common to get turned down. When you co-sign a loan, you're taking on full responsibility for that financial obligation, along with the primary borrower.

Can a cosigner get in trouble?

Acting as a co-signer can have serious financial consequences. First, co-signers assume legal responsibility for a debt. So, if the primary borrower is unable to pay as agreed, the co-signer may have to pay the full amount of what's owed. Second, a co-signed loan will appear on the co-signer's credit reports.

How do I get out of a cosigned loan?

Request release from a co-signed loan

Co-signers can make a written request to the lender to be released from a loan. In certain cases, like some student loans, there may be a provision that allows a co-signer to take their name off a loan.

What happens if a co-signer doesn't pay?

The lender may take legal action against you, pursue you through debt collection agencies, or sell the debt to a “debt buyer” to try to collect the money that is owed on the loan if the borrower does not pay or defaults on his or her repayment obligations.

Is it illegal to default on a loan?

Defaulting on a loan is not a crime. Lenders don't have legal jurisdiction to arrest you for an overdue balance. However, defaulting on a loan will have serious financial implications. It can result in the lender seizing your property as collateral, if applicable.

What power does a cosigner have?

They are equally responsible for the debt and must pay if the borrower does not make payments or defaults on the loan. Who can be a co-signer comes down to credit history and standing. A co-signer must have their income, assets, credit score and debt-to-income ratio in good shape to receive approval.

Can a co-signer take your house?

Remember that a co-signer is not on the title of the property and cannot take ownership of it. Getting a home loan with a partner is the same as if applying solo. Each party will need to provide proof of income, assets and bank statements, proof of identity, and other documents.

Can a cosigner be held liable?

A cosigner on a loan is legally responsible for the debt if the primary borrower defaults. Cosigning a loan will show up on your credit report and can impact your credit score if the primary borrower pays late or defaults. Cosigners may sign for student loans, personal loans, credit cards, and even mortgages.

Can you sue a cosigner?

A cosigner can be sued for a car accident, but only in certain situations. Most of the time, the driver who caused an accident, and not the cosigner, can be sued. In some states, however, there are exceptions that hold the cosigner liable even if they were not involved in the accident.

How can I legally remove myself as a cosigner?

Your best option to get your name off a large cosigned loan is to have the person who's using the money refinance the loan without your name on the new loan. Another option is to help the borrower improve their credit history. You can ask the person using the money to make extra payments to pay off the loan faster.

How much rights does a cosigner have?

Cosigning a loan doesn't give you any title, ownership, or other rights to the property the loan is paying for. Your only role is to repay the loan if the main borrower falls behind on the payments or defaults.