 TITLE: How Does Marriage Affect Your Student Loans? CONTENT: Can a Partner's Student Loans Affect Your Credit?\n-------------------------------------------------\nAlthough you and your spouse share finances, you do not share a credit report. You each have individual files, so even if your partner has spotty credit, marrying them won't lower your score. But it could hurt your chances of qualifying for a loan together, since their score will influence lenders' approval decisions and the interest rate you're offered.\nAdditionally, if you cosign on a loan together, that account will impact your credit. If either of you wants to refinance existing student debt on a shared loan, or one of you cosigns on a loan for the other to go back to school, you will both be responsible for the debt. Any late payments or delinquencies will bring down your score.\nTherefore, you may want to take a hard look at your finances together before making such a decision. Will you be able to afford the loan payments as a married couple? If you lose your job, is your partner's income enough to cover the monthly loan installments? Assuming one of you is going back to school in pursuit of a higher-paying job, how likely is it that you'll be able to quickly land a position that warrants taking on new debt? It's important for both of you to understand what you're signing on for and how it might impact your credit opportunities in the future. END