Skip to navigationSkip to main contentSkip to right columnADVERTISEMENTMeaghan HuntFri, July 31, 2026 at 11:22 PM GMT+2 11 min readKey takeawaysIf you obtained a joint mortgage with your ex, you're both responsible for the debt, even after divorce.Divorcing couples with a joint mortgage typically sell the home, refinance the mortgage in one spouse's name or have one party buy out the other's ownership stake.Your divorce agreement should cover all possible scenarios to protect both parties from financial harm.During divorce, you and your ex-spouse will need to determine the best course of action for your home and mortgage. The easiest options often involve buying out the other partner or selling the home, but refinancing or even keeping things as-is — if the divorce is amicable — can be good solutions as well. For the most direct advice, speak to your divorce attorney and current mortgage servicer. This guide can help you get started, but you'll need an expert to fully navigate your mortgage during a divorce.Mortgage options in a divorceDepending on the details of your mortgage, the circumstances of your divorce and other variables, you may have limited options for splitting your house. The most likely steps you'll need to take are to sell the home, refinance into one person's name or have one person buy out the other person.1. Sell your homeThe easiest option is often to sell the property and split the profits. Depending on where you are in the divorce process, you might agree to sell the home while the case is still pending rather than after it's settled.If you go this route — and many couples do — consider the costs first. These might include the real estate agent's commission, the costs of repairs or staging, property transfer taxes and capital gains taxes. These expenses are typically deducted from the proceeds of the sale.Say you and your ex sell your home for about $400,000. You'll first use the money to pay off the mortgage. If your remaining balance is about $275,000, you'll then have $125,000 to pay Realtor commissions — typically 5% or 6% of the sale price, or $24,000 in this case, if you pay the buyer's agent — and closing costs, which average $4,661 nationally. That leaves you about $94,000 to split as required by your state and established by your attorneys.2. Refinance your mortgageSome divorcing couples with a joint mortgage refinance to a new mortgage in only one person's name. This releases the other person from responsibility for the mortgage. That person must also be removed from the house title, which you can do with a quitclaim deed.Keep in mind that the party applying for the refinance can use only their own income and credit score to qualify, says Jeremy Runnels, CFP, partner at Cerity Partners (formerly West Coast Financial) in San Diego, California. "The lender is going to look at the individual and make sure they're OK having them as the sole guarantor." That could mean less advantageous terms, including a higher rate, given current refinance rates sit at 6.80% for a 30-year fixed term, as of July 2026.Terms and Privacy PolicyEU DSA contactPrivacy & Cookie SettingsMore Info