One of the questions you may be asked in your lifetime is to be a guarantor. This request may come from a family member or even a friend that needs someone to be a guarantor for a lease, loan, etc. Your first thought may be to agree right away to help that individual but, there are many things you should consider prior to becoming a guarantor.
It is important to understand that as a guarantor you are making yourself financially responsible for the obligations of the individual if they fail to perform. Often the Landlord or Lender requires a personal guarantor to provide an extra level of protection to ensure they are paid what they are owed. This likely means the individual does not meet their rental or loan criteria and is considered high risk. Therefore, the Lender or Landlord is looking to protect their interests by having a more qualified person guarantee to fulfill the financial obligations of the individual in the event they are unable to satisfy the prescribed conditions.
Since you are making the commitment to be financially responsible for the obligations of another, you should consider some of the following items prior to becoming a guarantor. To begin with, you should consider the individual’s financial situation. Are they reliable and dependable? Are they able to handle their own bills? These are questions you will want to consider, because depending on the individual’s financial situation, you may be putting yourself at a greater risk than you are aware of.
In relation to knowing the individual’s financial situation you should also take a second to consider your own financial situation. It is wise to consider whether you would be financially able to fulfill the obligations of the individual in the event they fail to perform. If you would not be able to handle the financial obligations of the individual, then you should not be their guarantor.
Additionally, you should be attentive to the underlying document that you are being asked to guarantee. If you are asked to be a guarantor on a lease, that is typically only a year-long commitment. However, if you are asked to guarantee on a car loan or mortgage, then you could be taking on this extra financial responsibility for seven, fifteen, or even thirty years. It is important to consider the underlying document for the guarantee so that you understand how long you are committing to taking on this additional financial responsibility. Moreover, you should consider how this extra financial responsibility may impact your own debt to income ratio and thus your own ability to get a loan or mortgage in the future.
Another item you should consider is what type of guarantee the Landlord or Lender is expecting you to provide. Is it a limited or unlimited guarantee? If it is limited, then there is usually a set amount that the Landlord or Lender will be able to collect from you as the guarantor. However, if it is an unlimited guarantee then they would be able to recover the entire amount from you as the guarantor. It is very important to understand the type of guarantee that you would be providing before you become a guarantor.
These are just a few items you should consider before becoming a guarantor. In light of the substantial financial responsibility of becoming a guarantor, it is advisable to seek the advice of a business law attorney before executing any type of personal guarantor. An attorney will be able to analyze your situation and the requirements of the personal guarantee, in order to advise you on the risks and best course of action with regards to becoming a personal guarantor.
