A home is a big ticket item, and many homebuyers increase their borrowing power by applying for a mortgage with a co-debtor such as a spouse or family member. While having two or more borrowers improves the approval odds, situations can arise in which one person wants her name removed from a joint mortgage. Divorce, succession planning or one co-debtor wanting to branch out on his own can all force the breakup of a joint property purchase. Because a mortgage is a legal document, you cannot simply walk away from your obligations. If you want to remove a borrower's name, you must pay off the loan and refinance it.
Step 1
Consult a mortgage lender about refinancing the mortgage loan. Unfortunately, removing a name from a mortgage loan isn't as simple as calling the mortgage company and making a request. To achieve this, you'll have to refinance the home loan. Shop around for a suitable mortgage product.
Step 2
Select a lender and complete a mortgage application.
Step 3
Sign and complete the new mortgage documents. Only the remaining borrower signs the new loan papers; the borrower you are replacing does not participate in the refinancing.
Step 4
File a quitclaim deed. Refinancing only removes the co-borrower's name from the mortgage. A quitclaim removes the co-borrower's name from the deed, which means that the remaining borrower owns the property outright.
Step 5
Record the quitclaim deed in the county records office.