Can A Creditor Close A Joint Account Because Of A Divorce?

By law, a creditor cannot close a joint account because of a change in marital status, but can do so at the request of either spouse. A creditor, however, does not have to change joint accounts to individual accounts. The creditor can require the debtor to reapply for credit on an individual basis and then, based on their new application, extend or deny the credit. In the case of a mortgage or home equity loan, a lender is likely to require refinancing to remove a spouse from the obligation.