The want to help out our friends is something that we are all guilty of. It is a good thing, up to a point. At some point in your life there is a good chance that you will be asked by a good friend to co-sign a loan for them. Maybe they have had credit difficulties in the past, which will make getting a loan hard for them. Saying no to such a request can e awfully hard sometimes, after all the only thing they want from you is your signature on a little piece of paper right?
Wrong! This is a decision that you should think long and hard about. It could affect your life in a big way. You need to ask yourself why it is that your friend needs your help in the first place. If it is because they have poor credit, do you really want to take the chance that they will be responsible now? If you co-sign it is you who will be responsible for the loan if they bail. Your credit can be at risk here, affecting your ability to get a home loan, car loan, credit card and so forth for years to come.
Before you sign anything make sure that you understand the following:
Your responsibility
When you sign the contract you are promising that your friend will make all of...