How can I remove my name as a cosigner?

Asked by: Grover Dare  |  Last update: January 22, 2025
Score: 4.1/5 (68 votes)

"Generally, you'll need the cooperation of the primary account holder to remove your name as a co-signer since, in many cases, it requires a new agreement with the lender to do so," says Leslie Tayne, a financial attorney and founder and managing director of New York's Tayne Law Group, which specializes in debt ...

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.

Can I take my name off as a co-signer?

Request release from a co-signed 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. Most loans, however, do not include such a provision.

Can a co-signer be removed?

Some lenders have a release option for co-signers, according to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. A release can be obtained after a certain number of on-time payments and a credit check of the original borrower to determine whether they are now creditworthy.

Will removing myself as a cosigner hurt my credit?

No, it doesn't hurt your credit, but having one can get credit history in your name because most times without a cosigner, you're not approved for an apartment or loan.

How To Get Removed As A Co-Signer On An Auto Or Mortgage Loan

40 related questions found

How to get out of being a co-signer?

To get a co-signer release you will first need to contact your lender. After contacting them, you can request the release — if the lender offers it. This is just paperwork that removes the co-signer from the loan and places you, the primary borrower, as the sole borrower on the loan.

How do I remove myself as an authorized user?

If you want to be removed from the account, you'll have to call the credit card provider and be prepared to negotiate. If the other account holder would qualify for the card on their own, the credit card company may approve your request. If not, your only option is to pay off any outstanding debt and close the account.

How do I remove a cosigner 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.

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.

How do I get my name off a car loan?

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.

Do co signers have any rights?

No. 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.

How do I get out of a loan?

  1. Make bi-weekly payments. Instead of making monthly payments toward your loan, submit half-payments every two weeks. ...
  2. Round up your monthly payments. ...
  3. Make one extra payment each year. ...
  4. Refinance. ...
  5. Boost your income and put all extra money toward the loan.

Does a co-signer's name go on the title?

What is a Co-Signer? A co-signer applies for the home loan right along with you. However, they are not on the title of the home. The co-signers name is only on the loan, meaning that while they are financially responsible for paying back the mortgage, they do not have ownership of the property.

Can I remove my name as cosigner?

If you want to remove yourself as a cosigner before the loan has been fully paid off, you can try asking the lender to remove you as the cosigner. Some lenders may be willing to do so if the primary borrower can show that they can handle the loan on their own.

Can you be released as a cosigner?

If a borrower can prove to the lender they're financially stable on their own, they might qualify for cosigner release. If you're considering cosigner release, keep in mind that there are benefits for you as the borrower, too. This includes: Showing you can financially handle the loan on your own.

Can a cosigner be kicked out?

Removing a co-borrower or cosigner from a mortgage is possible but difficult, and your lender may insist that you pay off the mortgage in full or refinance the house by taking out a new loan solely in your name.

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.

How do you get taken off as a cosigner?

Refinance or Consolidate

Another way to be removed as a co-signer, especially on an unsecured debt like a personal or student loan, is when the primary borrower refinances. Refinancing means the borrower opens a new loan that pays off and replaces the original one.

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.

How long does it take to be removed as a cosigner?

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.

How much does it cost to remove a name from a deed?

The price to eliminate names from deeds is contingent on many factors like where you live, the legal fees, and the difficulty of the procedure. Generally, it could vary from one hundred to a few thousand dollars. If both parties agree on the removal and there are no legal complications, the cost might be lower.

Can you remove someone from a loan without refinancing?

Secure Approval From the Lender

Your lender can remove a name from a mortgage without refinancing. The hard part with this is, it's completely up to the lender to decide whether to allow this.

Will removing myself as an authorized user hurt my credit?

Now, you may be wondering if removing yourself as an authorized user affects your credit, and the short answer is potentially. If the credit account you are removing yourself from is your oldest line of credit, your credit history will be shorter because of this.

Does removing an authorized user remove the history?

Schulz also notes that when primary cardholders remove an authorized user on their card, the primary cardholder's credit history will no longer influence the authorized user's credit history.

How do I get my name off my husband's credit cards?

You or your husband can call or write to the credit card company and ask them to remove your name. In most cases, it's effective immediately or within 24 hours. If you and your husband are joint account holders, regardless of who is the primary cardholder, it's not so simple.