Do you have to change your name on student loans after marriage?

Asked by: Dr. Madilyn Connelly Jr.  |  Last update: February 9, 2022
Score: 4.6/5 (12 votes)

If, during the course of your loan, you legally change your name through marriage or divorce, you need to contact your lender and verify the change of account information to ensure your loan continues to be handled properly.

Does getting married affect your student loans?

If you have federal student loans and are enrolled in an income-driven repayment (IDR) plan, getting married can affect your payments. With an IDR plan, your payments are a percentage of your discretionary income. If both you and your spouse work, your income may be higher, and your payments might increase.

Do I need to change my name on my student loans?

You should change your last name at the Social Security Administration. ... You should also change your name on your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) form. If the last name on your application doesn't match the last name of your FSA ID, your FSA ID won't work properly.

Are you responsible for spouse's student loans?

If you cosigned on your spouse's student loans at any time, whether they're federal loans, private loans, or refinanced loans, that means you are legally liable for those student loans. ... If your spouse dies or is otherwise unable to pay back their loans, the lender will look to you to pay them back.

Is spouse responsible for student loans incurred after marriage?

Marriage does not make you responsible for student loan debt your spouse incurred before you tied the knot. Each spouse remains responsible for the debt they borrowed to pay for school. Even if you live in a community property state, premarital debt is considered separate property.

Name Change After Marriage

20 related questions found

How does getting married affect student loan repayment?

If you're on an income-driven repayment plan for your federal student loans, getting married could affect your payments. If you file your taxes as “married filing jointly,” your income and your spouse's income will be combined into one adjusted gross income. As a result, your bill could increase.

Do I have to pay my ex wife's student loans?

Upon separation or divorce, there is a 50/50 split of community property. ... If a student loan was made before the marriage, or the couple did not reside in a community property state, the loan is the sole responsibility of the borrower, unless the spouse cosigned the loan.

Does marriage affect financial aid?

All students who are married are considered independent of their parents regardless of age. Thus, a couples' income and the assets of a spouse will affect a student's financial aid. However, income and assets from the couple's parents won't. This rule applies whether or not both members of the couple are students.

Do I want to repay my loans jointly with my spouse?

No. The law no longer allows married borrowers to consolidate their loans into a single joint consolidation loan. If you and your spouse both want to repay your loans under an income-driven repayment plan, you must apply separately.

How do I change my name on student loans?

How to Change a Name on Student Loans
  1. Visit the Social Security office to have your name changed legally before alerting your lender. ...
  2. Contact your lender to inform them of the change. ...
  3. Complete any required paperwork and prepare a letter stating the reason for the name change as well as the effective date.

What if my last name is too long for FAFSA?

If your last name is too long to fit in the field, enter as many characters as you can. For assistance with updating the information on a Social Security card, call the Social Security Administration (SSA) at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY for the deaf or hard of hearing 1-800-325-0778) or visit the SSA's website.

How do I change my name on federal student aid?

Make changes at fafsa.gov:
  1. Select the "LOG IN” button and enter your FSA ID.
  2. On the “My FAFSA” page, select “Edit FAFSA Form.”
  3. Create a save key.
  4. Change your information.
  5. Submit your new information.

Do student loans disappear after 7 years?

Do student loans go away after 7 years? Student loans don't go away after seven years. There is no program for loan forgiveness or cancellation after seven years. ... You'll still owe the debt until you pay it back, it's forgiven, or, in the case of private student loans, the statute of limitations runs out.

Does my spouse's income count for student loan repayment?

As a general rule: If you file a joint federal income tax return with your spouse, we're going to base your student loan payment on your joint income. If you file a separate federal income tax return from your spouse, we're going to base your student loan payment on your individual income.

Do you pay more taxes if you're married?

Tax brackets are different for each filing status, so your income may no longer be taxed at the same rate as when you were single. When you are married and file a joint return, your income is combined — which, in turn, may bump one or both of you into a higher tax bracket.

What is IDR forgiveness?

Forgiveness occurs when you reach the maximum repayment period under an income-driven repayment plan (IDR), like Income-Based Repayment (IBR), Pay As You Earn (PAYE), and Revised Pay As You Earn (REPAYE). ... You can test various repayment scenarios using the VIN Foundation Student Loan Repayment Simulator.

Can they garnish my husbands wages for my student loans?

The answer is yes. Your student loan creditors can garnish your spouse's wages to recover the amount of your defaulted student loan.

Are student loans forgiven after 25 years?

Loan Forgiveness

The maximum repayment period is 25 years. After 25 years, any remaining debt will be discharged (forgiven). Under current law, the amount of debt discharged is treated as taxable income, so you will have to pay income taxes 25 years from now on the amount discharged that year.

Do I have to tell FAFSA I'm married?

The FAFSA® requires that you provide the marital status “as of today” so that they know your status going into the new school year. ... You still need to report your marital status as of the day you filled out the FAFSA® form.

Can you get Pell Grant if your married?

The Federal Pell Grant – The Pell grant is available to all undergraduate students who can demonstrate the requisite level of financial need. For married students, eligibility for the Pell grant will be determined by the combined income and assets of the applying student and their spouse.

Do I have to include my spouse on my FAFSA?

If you are married and live with your spouse, you must include his or her income on your FAFSA. Filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, is the first step to receiving any kind of federal financial aid for college.

Are student loans split during divorce?

Legally, any student loan debt you incurred before getting married is considered separate property and remains so after the divorce (unless a prenup states otherwise). So if you borrowed $70,000 to attend law school before marrying your spouse, that debt is yours.

Can my student loans be forgiven if my spouse is disabled?

Can my student loans be forgiven if my spouse is disabled? You cannot get your federal student loans forgiven if your spouse is disabled. However, your spouse may be eligible to have their student loan debt forgiven through the Total and Permanent Disability Discharge Program.

What is marital debt in divorce?

Marital Debt Defined

In general, marital debt is debt that was acquired during the duration of the marriage. Separate debt most often means debt that a spouse had prior to marriage. Separate debt means the party who walked into the marriage with the debt is responsible for it after the divorce.

How does being married affect student loans UK?

If you're married, Student Finance England will need your spouse's income even if you don't live together, or they're not the student's parent. ... This means that if you get married or start living with your partner before the start of the academic year, Student Finance England will need their details.