Cosigned an apartment now i am being sued.

[kseanng]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? I live in Texas.

I cosigned for an apartment/townhouse for my sister and her husband almost 2 years ago. My sister lives in Missouri. The apartment company asked if I could cosign for one year. My sister and her husband were able to pay for the apartment for one year. After the year was up I told the apartment company to remove my name from the lease of course they never did about 10 months into the 2nd year my sister bailed on the apartment or townhouse. I only signed the lease for one year but somehow about 1 month ago I received a court order to appear in court the day I received the letter. Now I got a notice from the court stating that I owe 10k for the broken lease. The apartment company add a bunch of court fees, lates fees and 2 months rent plus all of damage my sister created in the townhouse which amounts to over 10k. My question is what will happen if I don't pay will they just ruin my credit or could they garnish my wages or put a lien on my current house or my rental property.
Can I fight it if I get a lawyer because technically I only agreed to cosign for one year. I never signed the renewal lease.


thanks,

 

[FlyingRon]

If the lease contained a provision for automatic renewal, you're likely on the hook. If your sister and her husband signed a new lease and you weren't cosigning that one, then you have no responsibility.

 

[kseanng]

they did not sign a renewal. so if i am responsible would they just ruin my credit

 

[Ohiogal]

they did not sign a renewal. so if i am responsible would they just ruin my credit

Yep, it will ruin your credit. They can also garnish your wages, lien other property, attach your bank accounts.

 

[adjusterjack]

Yep, it will ruin your credit. They can also garnish your wages, lien other property, attach your bank accounts.

Nope.

The Texas Constitution and statutes prohibit wage garnishment for consumer debts.

 

[PayrollHRGuy]

The OP wrote "The apartment company asked if I could cosign for one year." Was that one year in writing? Was their verbiage in the lease that removed you after that first year?