In that way, your credit status would remain unaffected in the event of your spouse's death. When you are applying for individual credit, you should ask the creditor to consider the credit history of accounts that are reported in your spouse's or former spouse's name only, as well as those that are in your name. The creditor must consider this information if you can show that it reflects on your ability to manage credit. For example, you may be able to show through cancelled checks that you made payments on an account, even though it is listed in your spouse's name only. While the ECOA gives you certain rights, it does not guarantee that you will be granted credit.
Creditors are the ones who make that decision.
But if you are ever denied credit, first make sure you request the reasons for the denial. It may have been an error or the computer system may not have evaluated all relevant information. In that case, you can ask the creditor to reconsider. You might be able to negotiate a compromise with the creditor. If, for example, at the age of 70, you apply for a 30-year mortgage, a lender might be concerned about your ability to repay the loan.