Ok.. here goes.. in Oct 2006 I cosigned a 1 year lease for my exhusband who could not get approved for an apartment on his own credit. Oct 2010 last month I got a credit alert. I looked it up and it was a collection account for 1617.00 for the apartment complex I had cosigned the lease for. So I called them to ask what was up. At this point I had not spoken to my ex husband in 4 years since signing the 1 year lease.

My exhusband stayed in the apartment until May 2010. The apartment people told me that when the lease was up he opted to go Month - Month because he wouldn't have to have his credit run.. they told me that because he went month to month after the 1 year lease was up that I was still responsible for the unpaid rent ( apprantly he didn't give enough notice when he vacated in May 2010) and the damages.. WHAT!. I also came to find out that when he put in his notice to vacate dated March 2010 he signed my name to it and iniatials in 6 places. I told the aprtment complex that was not my signature. They compared it to the lease and agreed that the signatures were not even c;lose to a match. They told me as the co-signer I am still libale for the 1617.00.. Its on my credit report now.. big black mark. Is this true am I still on the hook for his irresponsiblity 4 years later when all I ever signed was a 1 year lease... I am pretty pissed right now.. but it's a lesson learned for sure.. Thats what I get for trying to help someone out.

If he elected to continue the original lease on a month to month basis then that lease remained in force and as a co-signer you would be held responsible. Sorry, but that's the risk you take when you co-sign.

I would, however, consult an attorney here. Since laws vary by area, its possible in your area, when the lease expired so did your responsibility. But that's a longshot In my opinion. His forging your info on the notice to vacate probably has no bearing here.

The good news is you can turn around and sue him for what you owe.