What happens if you cosign a loan and the other person defaults?

Asked by: Dr. Lisandro Rath III  |  Last update: February 12, 2026
Score: 4.3/5 (49 votes)

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 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.

What happens if you cosign a loan and the person stops paying?

In most cases, you'll be asked to cosign for a friend or family member who couldn't get approved for financing on their own. If they stop making payments, the responsibility will be passed on to you—and you could be sued if you don't follow through. Your credit could also suffer.

What happens if you default on a cosigned loan?

Here's what happens if you cosign for any other person who doesn't pay: You are liable for the debt You may be sued Refinance or consolidate the loan Request a cosigner release Attempt to catch up on payments.

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 Your Credit Will Be Affected If You Cosign|What Happens When Cosigning

20 related questions found

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 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.

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.

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.

Will a creditor remove a default?

Once a default is recorded on your credit profile, you can't have it removed before the six years are up (unless it's an error). However, there are several things that can reduce its negative impact: Repayment. Try and pay off what you owe as soon as possible.

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.

What does it mean when a loan is defaulted on?

Default is failure to repay a loan according to the terms agreed to in the promissory note. For most federal student loans, you will default if you have not made a payment in more than 270 days.

Can a cosigner take their name off the loan?

When it comes to any loan (including auto, personal, home and student loans) co-signers can request to be released but lenders are reluctant to agree. In fact, studies show that nearly 40% of cosigners pay off some or part of a 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 a cosigner lose their house?

Co-signers can lose their property if the loan defaults.

Keep copies of all paperwork on hand in case disputes arise, and ask the lender to notify you in writing if the borrower ever skips a payment.

When can you take someone off 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.

Can you go to jail if you default on a loan?

Can you go to jail for debt? A long time ago, it was legal for people to go to jail over unpaid debts. Fortunately, debtors' prisons were outlawed by Congress in 1833. As a result, you can't go to jail for owing unpaid debts anymore.

What are the consequences of loan default?

Your loan holder can take you to court. You may not be able to buy or sell assets such as real estate. You may be charged court costs, collection fees, attorney's fees, and other costs associated with the collection process. It may take years to reestablish a good credit record.

Can you ask a lender to remove a default?

You can only get a default removed from your credit report if you can prove that it was an error. Get in touch with the credit referencing agency and explain the situation. The credit referencing agency should then get in contact with the lender to check the accuracy of your claim.

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 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 much ownership does a cosigner have?

The cosigner is legally responsible for the debt if the primary borrower can't make payments. Any late or missed payments can negatively impact both parties' credit scores. Furthermore, the cosigner doesn't have any ownership of the vehicle.

Can a cosigner take my house?

Will I have ownership of the property if I cosign? No, you will not take on ownership if you're only a mortgage cosigner and not an actual co-borrower. As a cosigner, you're only guaranteeing the loan payment.

Can a co-signer take your car?

Remember, the primary borrower legally owns the vehicle, so an auto loan co-signer cannot take over without the consent of all parties and a refinance loan.

How to take someone's name off a car loan?

A co-signer or co-borrower can request a release from a car loan, refinance the loan, pay off the loan or sell the vehicle to remove themselves from the loan agreement. It is important to communicate with the other borrower and come to an agreement on how to handle the loan before taking any action.