Can I transfer my parent PLUS loan to my spouse?

Asked by: Maryse Osinski  |  Last update: April 16, 2026
Score: 4.6/5 (47 votes)

Like transferring to a child or student, an option that allows for transferring to a spouse or any other person is applying for refinancing through a private lender like SoFi, turning it into a private loan.

Can I transfer my parent PLUS loan to my husband?

It is not possible to transfer a Parent PLUS loan (or any other federal student loan, for that matter) to anyone else while keeping it federal. Refinancing federal loans for a lower interest rate is generally foolish. Make sure you understand what you'd be giving up if you refinance federal loans.

What is the loophole for parent plus borrowers?

How to Use the Double Consolidation Loophole: The key to using the double consolidation loophole is to consolidate each of your Parent PLUS Loans twice. In this scenario, a borrower can have as few as two Parent PLUS Loans.

Is a parent PLUS loan considered marital debt?

Unfortunately, this is a common situation. Arguably, because the Parent PLUS loans were taken out during the marriage for the benefit of their children, they ought to be considered marital debt (1).

Can you transfer your student loans to your spouse?

No, it is not possible to transfer federal student loans to another person. Federal student loans are issued to individual borrowers based on their own creditworthiness and financial need, and they cannot be transferred to someone else.

How to transfer Parent PLUS Loans

30 related questions found

Can you transfer a loan to your spouse?

Generally, personal loans cannot be transferred to another person because these loans are determined based on your credit score and list of available sources of income. 1 Some types of personal loans, such as signature loans, require your signature and use your promise to pay as collateral.

Do private student loans pass to spouse?

Many private lenders will also cancel debt when the borrower dies, but policies vary by lender. Loved ones or spouses can't inherit student loan debt.

Can I put my parents PLUS loan in my name?

If you want to know how to transfer a parent PLUS loan to a student, the answer is simple: Your student can take on the loan by refinancing it in their own name. As long as the student can qualify to refinance on their own, they can assume full responsibility for the debt.

Can a parent get out of a parent PLUS loan?

Your parent PLUS loan may be discharged if you (not the child) become totally and permanently disabled, die, or (in some cases) file for bankruptcy. Your parent PLUS loan also may be discharged if the student for whom you borrowed dies.

Can you inherit parent PLUS Loans?

What happens to my parent's PLUS loan if my parent dies or if I die? Your parent's PLUS loan will be discharged if your parent dies or if you (the student on whose behalf your parent obtained the loan) die.

Do parent PLUS loans get forgiven after 20 years?

Parent PLUS Loan borrowers can have their debt forgiven after 10 years of working full-time for the government, nonprofit, or other qualifying employers. For the past year, retired public servants could submit an application to get retroactive credit towards the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.

What is the $100,000 loophole for family loans?

The $100,000 Loophole.

With a larger below-market loan, the $100,000 loophole can save you from unwanted tax results. To qualify for this loophole, all outstanding loans between you and the borrower must aggregate to $100,000 or less.

How can I lower my parent PLUS loan payments?

Refinancing. If you have good credit and enough household income to qualify, you may also be able to refinance your Parent PLUS loan to a lower interest rate through a private lender, which can potentially save you money.

What happens if you can't pay back a parent PLUS loan?

Defaulting on a Parent PLUS Loan can lead to serious consequences, including wage garnishment, credit score damage, and the loss of federal benefits. But you can recover through loan rehabilitation or consolidation with the U.S. Department of Education.

How do I take over my parents parent PLUS loan?

If you'd like to take legal responsibility for the parent PLUS loans, you'll need to refinance them through a private lender, such as a bank or credit union. You'll have to meet credit score and income requirements to qualify.

Can divorced parents each take out a parent PLUS loan?

If a student's parents are divorced, both the custodial and non-custodial parent may borrow a PLUS loan for their dependent, undergraduate student. A step-parent may only borrow a PLUS loan if they are married to the custodial parent and their financial information was reported on the FAFSA.

What disqualifies you from a parent PLUS loan?

If you're a parent or graduate student seeking a Direct PLUS Loan, one of the requirements to qualify is that you must not have an adverse credit history. If your application is denied because of an adverse credit history, don't give up. You still have options.

What is the average parent PLUS loan debt?

Based on the information from Federal Student Aid, as of 2022, the average Parent PLUS Loan debt is $29,528. Although that might not sound like a huge amount, it depends on the parent's income.

Can I consolidate my parents parent PLUS loans?

Parent PLUS loans are not eligible for any of the income-driven repayment (IDR) plans in and of themselves. You can, however, consolidate the Parent PLUS loans to a Direct Consolidation Loan at which point the borrower gains access to one of the IDR plans, but only one – the income contingent repayment plan (ICR).

How do I get out of my parent PLUS loan?

How Can Parent PLUS Loans Be Discharged?
  1. School closure leading to the inability of your child to complete their program.
  2. Your child's school's failure to refund loan money following your child withdrawing from school, withstanding the law.
  3. Your death or the death of the child you borrowed for.

Can you transfer a student loan to another person?

No, you generally can't transfer student loans from one person to another. This applies to both federal and private student loans. Each borrower is responsible for repaying their own loans. Federal student loans are designed to stay with the original borrower.

Do parent PLUS loans look at income?

Does my debt-to-income ratio, credit score, or employment status count against me when I apply for a PLUS loan? These factors aren't taken into account when credit history is reviewed. A lack of credit is not considered adverse credit. write-off of federal student aid debt.

Will I inherit my parents' student loan debt?

If you pass away with federal student loans, the debt won't be passed on to anyone else, not even your spouse or parents. The loan servicer will discharge your federal student loan, as well as any Parent PLUS loans taken out in your name, upon receiving proper documentation of your death.

Is student loan debt transferable to spouse?

Neither you nor your spouse is liable for any student loan debt the other accrued before you got married unless you happened to co-sign for it; however, if one of you takes out a new loan after being married, both spouses could be.

Are student loans forgiven after 20 years?

Any borrower with ED-held loans that have accumulated time in repayment of at least 20 or 25 years will see automatic forgiveness, even if the loans are not currently on an IDR plan. Borrowers with FFELP loans held by commercial lenders or Perkins loans not held by ED can benefit if they consolidate into Direct Loans.