Today, many students turn to private lenders to help cover the cost of college. Unfortunately, private student loans don’t carry many of the same protections as federal student loans. As a result, you should be aware of the risks associated with acting as a co-signer for these types of loans.
According to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, approximately 90% of all private student loans were co-signed in 2011 (Source: Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Mid Year Update on Student Loan Complaints, April 2014). Private lenders often require a co-signer if a borrower has little or no credit history. In addition, having a co-signer often allows a borrower to obtain a lower interest rate for a loan.
When co-signing any loan, you need to be aware that as co-signor, you are being asked to guarantee the loan. In other words, if your daughter doesn’t make her loan payments, the lender can go after you for payment of the loan. Depending on the loan terms, a lender can even demand full payment of a loan from a co-signer if the borrower misses just one payment. In addition, a lender can attempt to collect a loan that is due by using traditional debt collection methods, including wage garnishment.
Before you co-sign your daughter’s loan, you’ll want to consider whether you will be able to afford to pay her loan if she is unable to make her loan payments. In addition, you should find out how co-signing the loan will impact your current creditworthiness.
Finally, if you do end up co-signing your daughter’s loan, you should also find out whether the loan document contains a provision regarding automatic defaults or “auto defaults.” An “auto default” situation arises when the co-signor for a loan dies or declares bankruptcy and the lender demands the full amount of the loan to be paid back immediately by the borrower. If the loan does have an “auto default” clause, your daughter should be fully aware of the possible consequences and take steps once she has graduated and is in repayment to pursue a co-signer release for the loan. If you have questions, contact the Experts at Henssler Financial:
- Experts Request Form
- Email: experts@henssler.com
- Phone: 770-429-9166.
Disclosures
The following information is reprinted with permission from Forefield, a division of Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. This article is meant to provide valuable background information on particular investments, NOT a recommendation to buy. The investments referenced within this article may currently be traded by Henssler Financial. All material presented is compiled from sources believed to be reliable and current, but accuracy cannot be guaranteed. The contents are intended for general information purposes only. Information provided should not be the sole basis in making any decisions and is not intended to replace the advice of a qualified professional, such as a tax consultant, insurance adviser or attorney. Although this material is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information with respect to the subject matter, it may not apply in all situations. Readers are urged to consult with their adviser concerning specific situations and questions. This is not to be construed as an offer to buy or sell any financial instruments. It is not our intention to state, indicate or imply in any manner that current or past results are indicative of future profitability or expectations. As with all investments, there are associated inherent risks. Please obtain and review all financial material carefully before investing. Henssler is not licensed to offer or sell insurance products, and this overview is not to be construed as an offer to purchase any insurance products.
