Does the divorce decree take my name off the mortgage?

No. The decree settles things between you and your ex, and the lender was never a party to it, so your obligation on the loan is unchanged until the loan itself is refinanced, assumed, or paid off.

Does a quitclaim deed remove me from the loan?

No. A quitclaim deed transfers your ownership of the property, and the note you signed is a separate contract, so signing the deed over can leave you liable for a loan on a house you no longer own.

Can I keep the house on one income?

Sometimes, and the deciding factor is usually the debt-to-income ratio rather than the equity. The buyout calculator estimates both on your own figures so you can see which one is the problem before you spend money finding out.

Will talking to Alex cost anything or pull my credit?

No. The first answer is free, and nothing is pulled until you say so. There is no credit check involved in asking a question, and Alex will tell you plainly if the answer is that he cannot help.

Plain answers for divorce, separation, and cosigned loans

A divorce decree does not take your name off the mortgage.

Here is what actually does, what each path requires, and whether one income can carry the house. Plain answers from a licensed loan originator, with no sales pitch.

See if you can keep the house Tell Alex your situation

Licensed MLO, NMLS 1110038
Nine states, California and Florida first
No credit pull, no spam, no selling your info

Before you sign anything

The decree settles things between you and your ex. The loan is a separate contract.

A quitclaim deed changes who owns the house, not who owes the loan.
The decree binds you and your ex. It does not bind the lender.
Only a refinance, an assumption, or a sale removes your liability.

Read the plain answers

Pick the one that sounds like your situation

Not sure which one you are?

Tell Alex your situation

Why this site exists

Most people find out the hard way that the decree did not change the loan

Someone signs the deed over, moves out, and two years later finds the mortgage still sitting on their credit, still counting against them, still theirs to pay if the other person stops. The court order said one thing and the lender was never asked. This site exists so you find that out now, from someone licensed to tell you, instead of later from a credit report.

Read the plain answers on divorce and your mortgage

How it works

1
Run the numbers, or answer four questions

Use the buyout calculator, or just tell Alex the situation in your own words. Either one is enough to start.
2
Alex replies within one business day, in writing

A straight answer about which path fits, what it needs, and what it does not. Not a sales call.
3
You decide what happens next

If a refinance is the answer, he can do it. If it is not, he will say so and tell you what is.

What you get, and what you will not

What you get

A plain answer about which path actually removes your name.
The numbers run on your real figures, not on an average.
A written reply within one business day.
A straight no, with the reason, when the answer is no.

What you will not get

A credit pull before you say so.
A teaser rate. Rates are quoted on a real application, not on a web page.
Your information sold or passed to a call center.
A yes when the answer is no.

Questions people ask first

Does the divorce decree take my name off the mortgage?: No. The decree settles things between you and your ex, and the lender was never a party to it, so your obligation on the loan is unchanged until the loan itself is refinanced, assumed, or paid off.
Does a quitclaim deed remove me from the loan?: No. A quitclaim deed transfers your ownership of the property, and the note you signed is a separate contract, so signing the deed over can leave you liable for a loan on a house you no longer own.
Can I keep the house on one income?: Sometimes, and the deciding factor is usually the debt-to-income ratio rather than the equity. The buyout calculator estimates both on your own figures so you can see which one is the problem before you spend money finding out.
Will talking to Alex cost anything or pull my credit?: No. The first answer is free, and nothing is pulled until you say so. There is no credit check involved in asking a question, and Alex will tell you plainly if the answer is that he cannot help.

Find out which path works, before you spend money on the wrong one

Free. No credit pull. A written answer within one business day.

See if you can keep the house Tell Alex your situation

Who runs this site

Alex (Alejandro) Espinoza

Mortgage Loan Originator, NMLS 1110038. Licensed in CA, FL, GA, VA, WA, AZ, TN, CO, ID. Based in North County San Diego, California.

Alex works mostly with people in the middle of a hard change, and with borrowers whose income does not fit a standard file. His job is to tell you plainly which path will actually work for you, before you spend time or money on the wrong one.

More about Alex