Can I sue to get my name off a loan?

Asked by: Narciso Osinski  |  Last update: June 4, 2025
Score: 4.6/5 (54 votes)

Worst-case scenario, you can consult with an attorney and head to court. "They may be able to help you file an action to get removed from a loan," says Tayne. For example, if you had marital debt, like a home, you can request the court to intervene and force the sale, says Tayne.

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.

How can I get my name off a loan?

  1. Transfer the balance to a 0% card. The original borrower can move any remaining credit card or loan debt to a balance transfer credit card. ...
  2. Get a loan release. ...
  3. Consolidate or refinance the debt. ...
  4. Remove your name from a credit card account. ...
  5. Sell the financed asset. ...
  6. Pay off the balance.

Can I sue to get my name off a car loan?

Yes, you can sue her for the money; however it isn't going to help your credit or get you off the loan though. You would need to pay off the loan yourself as you are fully responsible to the lender by co-signing. Afterwards you could then go after your ex for the money you paid on their behalf for their vehicle.

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

You will have to sue the person for the debt. Whenyou co-sign a loan you agree to be liable to the lender in case the borrower does not pay. BUT you have no control over the situation. When the borrower does not pay you have to, and then you have to sue the borrower to get a judgment to try to get your money back.

How can you remove your name from a mortgage?

34 related questions found

Can I get my name off a car loan I cosigned for?

The bottom line

If your circumstances have shifted and you need to get your name off a car loan, you can get a release, refinance, sell the vehicle or pay off the car loan. To avoid any future headaches, check with the other borrower to ensure you are fully removed from the co-signed or co-borrowed auto loan.

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

If the borrower does not repay the loan, you may be forced to repay the whole amount of the loan, plus interest and any late fees that have accrued. With most cosigned loans, the lender is not required to pursue the main borrower first, but can request payment from the cosigner any time there is a missed payment.

Can you remove a name from a car loan without refinancing?

But if your circumstances change over time or your credit score improves and you would like to remove the co-signer from your loan, there are three primary options. You can refinance, get a co-signer release or pay off the loan.

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.

Can I repossess a car in my name?

Yes, as the owner you can have the car towed and then pick it up from the tow yard. You could also sue the other person for breach of contract if they were supposed to pay you for the vehicle. You can ask the court to award you the money they owe you or to force them to return the car to you.

Can I remove myself from a joint car loan?

To get your name off of someone's car loan you have the option to request a co-signer release. Selling or trading in the vehicle is another way to remove a co-signer from a car loan. If these aren't options, you can ask them to refinance the loan without you.

How can I remove my name from a loan without refinancing?

5 ways to remove someone from a mortgage without refinancing
  1. Mortgage loan assumption: Transfer the loan to your name. ...
  2. Mortgage loan modification: Change the terms of you loan. ...
  3. Selling the house: Fresh start for both parties. ...
  4. Paying off the mortgage: Eliminating the debt.

Who gets the credit on a cosigned loan?

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. The co-signer's credit scores may be positively or negatively impacted by the borrower's credit behavior.

How do I get my name off someone's loan?

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.

Does a cosigner have any legal rights?

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.

How to get out of a joint loan?

Removing a cosigner or co-borrower from a mortgage almost always requires paying off the loan in full or refinancing by getting a new loan in your own name. Under rare circumstances, though, the lender may allow you to take over an existing mortgage from your other signer.

Can I legally remove myself as a cosigner?

Each lender has its own criteria and process for removing cosigners, and some don't even allow it. So the best place to start is to contact your lender to find out your options. They may include: Co-signer release: An agreement to release the cosigner's liability after a certain number of payments are made.

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.

Is it illegal to pay off a loan with another loan?

While you can often use one loan to pay off another, be sure to read the fine print of your contract first and be wise about your spending habits.

How to get out of a co-signed 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.

How do I get my name off my ex's car loan?

Removing Your Name From A Joint Auto Loan
  1. Pay off the loan. If you can pay off the remaining balance, then you end the loan and the obligation to the loan contract. ...
  2. Refinance. If one co-borrower wants to keep the car and one wants their name removed from the loan, they can try to qualify for refinancing. ...
  3. Sell the car.

Is there a way to remove a cosigner without refinancing?

You can take your name off a mortgage without refinancing your loan by selling the home, having the new owner take on a loan assumption, asking your current lender to modify the loan, or filing bankruptcy. You can also pay off the entire mortgage if you and your co-owner have the means.

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.

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.

Can you reverse a cosign?

You can often remove a cosigner at any point during the loan period. Your loan paperwork might dictate specific terms, though. For example, some lenders require 24 months of on-time payments from the primary borrower before they'll consider releasing the cosigner.