What happens when the person you cosigned for doesn't pay?

Asked by: Prof. Jolie Goldner  |  Last update: March 2, 2026
Score: 4.8/5 (11 votes)

If you cosign a debt and the borrower doesn't pay, in most every case you will be responsible for the entire debt.

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

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 a co-signer doesn't pay?

The lender may take legal action against you, pursue you through debt collection agencies, or sell the debt to a “debt buyer” to try to collect the money that is owed on the loan if the borrower does not pay or defaults on his or her repayment obligations.

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 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.

My Cosigner Has Stopped Paying and It's Wrecking My Credit!

37 related questions found

What happens to cosigner if I don't pay rent?

You would be sued if the rent is not paid. You are jointly and severally liable for the lease when you are a co-signer. This means that if the rent is not paid, the Landlord can pursue all persons on the lease or just one person.

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.

How can I get my name off as a cosigner?

Get a loan release

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.

What legal rights does a cosigner have?

Being a cosigner does not give you rights to the property. A cosigner has no title or ownership in the property secured for the loan. Additionally, a cosigner has no legal right to occupy a home as a primary or secondary residence, unlike the primary signer/borrower.

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.

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.

Can I kick out a co-signer?

When your credit score improves, you have the option to remove the co-signer from your loan. You can remove the co-signer by refinancing your auto loan, receiving a co-signer release or paying off the loan.

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.

What happens if a cosigner refuses to pay?

Such a delinquency will show up on your credit report and affect your credit. You are held just as liable for the loan as the person you co-signed for. You would not only have to assume the payments but deal with your lowered credit score at the same time.

Can a cosigner take me to court?

If you're the primary borrower on a debt, your cosigner can take you to court for: Recovery of money paid: they can sue you to recover the money they've paid towards the loan. Fraud: they can sue you if you signed their name to the loan without their permission.

Can someone take their name off a cosigned car?

The short answer is yes! Removing a cosigner from a car loan is absolutely possible, but there are a few different routes you can take to achieve it. The finance team at Marietta Toyota has outlined the purpose of a cosigner along with common ways to release them from a car loan below, so read on!

How do I 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.

Can you sue someone for defaulting on a loan you cosigned?

But most states allow cosigners to take primary borrowers to court in the following situations: Cross claims: If you default on or fail to repay the loan, the lender could sue the cosigner for the money owed. The cosigner may then be able to sue you for the money that the lender is trying to recover.

Can a co-signer take your house?

Remember that a co-signer is not on the title of the property and cannot take ownership of it. Getting a home loan with a partner is the same as if applying solo. Each party will need to provide proof of income, assets and bank statements, proof of identity, and other documents.

How can I legally remove myself as a cosigner?

To qualify for a cosigner release, borrowers must prove that they have the ability to pay off the loan on their own and they must not have any late payments over a set period of time. You could also have the original borrower refinance the student loan in order to remove yourself as cosigner.

How do I get out of a car loan?

How to get out of a car loan
  1. Renegotiate your loan terms. ...
  2. Refinance your car loan. ...
  3. Pay off your auto loan early. ...
  4. Sell your car. ...
  5. Consider voluntary repossession. ...
  6. Default on your car loan (not recommended) ...
  7. Consider filing for bankruptcy (not recommended)

Will removing myself as a cosigner hurt my credit?

Being removed as a cosigner from a loan could potentially hurt your credit scores. How much your scores are impacted depends on the details of your credit profile.

Can you kick a cosigner out?

Removing your cosigner leaves just you to cover any late or missed monthly payments, so some lenders might make it difficult to remove the second person. Before you can remove a cosigner, you may have to prove that your finances and/or credit score have improved since getting the loan.

How do I get a financed car out of my name?

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.

Does being a co-signer affect your credit?

How does being a co-signer affect my credit score? Being a co-signer itself does not affect your credit score. Your score may, however, be negatively affected if the main account holder misses payments.