 TITLE: Getting Married? Here’s How It Affects Your Credit CONTENT: What if My Spouse Has Bad Credit?\n---------------------------------\nA spouse's poor credit score won't immediately affect your own. It could be an indicator that they struggle to stick to a budget or manage their own finances. On the other hand, it could be a result of past mistakes that they learned from and haven't repeated. To find out, have a candid conversation about what contributed to their score and how they're addressing it before tying the knot.\nIn the meantime, if you want to get a loan with a spouse who has bad credit, it could lead to disappointment. When you apply for a mortgage as co-borrowers, for instance, lenders typically use the lowest credit score between you two when assessing the application, according to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. You could apply as an individual borrower, but only your income would be considered, and you might not qualify for as large a mortgage. You also could run into trouble if you're looking to rent an apartment together, since landlords often check credit as part of the rental application process. END