A cosigner is someone who has better credit than you and is willing to sign onto your loan application to help you pass a credit check. If you stop repaying your debt, the payments become the responsibility of the cosigner, which is a way for the lender to guarantee you will repay your debt. You can typically use a cosigner with a private loan, an installment loan, a credit card, or any other bank loan product. You may need a cosigner if your credit score does not pass the lender’s credit check requirements. Just remember that any late payments or defaults will reflect on your credit report as well as your cosigner’s. Enlisting the help of a cosigner is a huge responsibility. Do not put your cosigner in an awkward situation — they would be doing you a huge favor. Whether you’re dreaming of homeownership, a new vehicle, or a personal loan to help lighten your load, you can find loans for single parents with bad credit by researching the lending networks above. With these networks, you can put your loan request in front of several lenders from around the U.S. to see whether you prequalify without causing further damage to your credit score. Even better, you can apply at any time of the day or night and from the comfort of your own home.