What happens when a co-signer on a loan dies?

Asked by: Susanna Barton  |  Last update: August 17, 2025
Score: 4.5/5 (15 votes)

Lenders typically require you to notify them if a co-applicant dies. Some lenders will allow you to keep paying the mortgage yourself. Others will re-qualify you to see if you can afford the payments on your own. If you can't, the mortgage will have to be paid out or you'll need to get another co-signor.

What happens to a cosigner if the borrower dies?

A cosigner is someone who agrees to pay a loan if the primary borrower doesn't repay the loan. This way, if the borrower dies, or does not have enough money to repay the student loans, then the lender can still recover the loan from the cosigner.

How do I get my loan forgiveness if the cosigner dies?

If your account is in good standing and you have a history of making on-time payments, you may be able to ask for a cosigner release or death discharge. A cosigner release is when a lender agrees to release a cosigner from the loan, and thus, the cosigner's obligation to pay it back should you not be able to.

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 you take over a loan of a deceased person?

Unless there is a co-signor or co-borrower on the loan, no one is required to take over the deceased homeowner's mortgage. Even if the deceased homeowner signed a valid will that leaves the home to someone else, then the title of the home will go to that beneficiary.

Students forced to pay off loans if cosigner dies

21 related questions found

Can a loan be forgiven at death?

At death, are personal loans forgiven? No, unless an estate is unable to repay the debt and no one survives to inherit it, personal loans are often not forgiven upon death.

Why shouldn't you always tell your bank when someone dies?

If you contact the bank before consulting an attorney, you risk account freezes, which could severely delay auto-payments and direct deposits and most importantly mortgage payments. You should call Social Security right away to tell them about the death of your loved one.

How can I legally get out of a cosigned 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 much rights does a cosigner have?

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.

Can a cosigner take your house?

If the other party stops making payments, as co-owner, you can take possession of the property. This is not the case as a co-signer.

What debts are not forgiven upon death?

Medical debt and hospital bills don't simply go away after death. In most states, they take priority in the probate process, meaning they usually are paid first, by selling off assets if need be.

Can you take your name off a loan as a cosigner?

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.

Who qualifies for loan forgiveness?

If you have loans that have been in repayment for more than 20 or 25 years, those loans may immediately qualify for forgiveness. Borrowers who have reached 20 or 25 years (240 or 300 months) worth of eligible payments for IDR forgiveness will see their loans forgiven as they reach these milestones.

What is the death clause in a loan agreement?

The clause basically says the following (and I'm paraphrasing here): If the co-signer or the borrower dies or declares bankruptcy, the entire balance of the loan will be come due immediately.

What happens if I remove myself as a cosigner?

Fortunately, you can have your name removed, but you will have to take the appropriate steps depending on the cosigned loan type. Basically, you have two options: You can enable the main borrower to assume total control of the debt or you can get rid of the debt entirely.

What happens to debt when borrower dies?

The answer is basically that your debts become your estate's responsibility when you die. The executor you name in your will becomes responsible for settling your estate, which includes settling your debts. Keep good records of your assets and debts so your executor will have an easier time handling them when you die.

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.

Does a cosigner legally own the car?

Unlike co-borrowers, who are on the title or have some claim to the property or funds, co-signers have no title or ownership of the property the funds are used for. For example, a co-signer for a vehicle has no legal right to the financed vehicle.

Can I sue someone for not paying a loan I cosigned?

Yes, you can sue the person you co-signed for if they don't make the payments they promised to make. You may be able to get a judgment against them in court, but it could be hard to collect that money since they didn't pay the debt in the first place.

Can a co-signer take your car away?

Cosigners can't take possession of the vehicle they cosign for or remove the primary borrower from the loan since their name isn't on the vehicle's title.

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.

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.

What not to do immediately after someone dies?

What Not to Do When Someone Dies: 10 Common Mistakes
  • Not Obtaining Multiple Copies of the Death Certificate.
  • 2- Delaying Notification of Death.
  • 3- Not Knowing About a Preplan for Funeral Expenses.
  • 4- Not Understanding the Crucial Role a Funeral Director Plays.
  • 5- Letting Others Pressure You Into Bad Decisions.

Do banks automatically get notified when someone dies?

Family members or next of kin generally notify the bank when a client passes. It can also be someone who was appointed by a court to handle the deceased's financial affairs. There are also times when the bank learns of a client's passing through probate.

Are bank accounts automatically frozen when someone dies?

Banks freeze access to deceased accounts, such as savings or checking accounts, pending direction from an authorized court. Banks generally cannot close a deceased account until after the person's estate has gone through probate or has otherwise settled.