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Family favors become considerably riskier when they arrive with six figures of potential debt.

Would you protect your financial future or trust relatives who insist your signature carries no real responsibility?

That was the choice facing a young woman whose bankrupt father and newly employed brother needed help securing a mortgage.

Let’s see how this financial dilemma unfolded.

AITAH for not cosigning a mortgage agreement for my parents?

I (21F) have been asked by my parents to cosign a home mortgage with my brother (22M).

It was worth $200K.

For context, my dad and brother live 3 hours away from my mom and my other siblings because of work.

I live in another province for military posting reasons.

This woman was asked to co-sign because her dad and brother alone might not get approved.

My dad and brother are currently paying rent, and they’re looking to buy a house. However, my dad has filed for bankruptcy, and my brother has only been working for 3 months at his new job.

He might not get approved.

That’s why they need me to co-sign using my name and ID.

They assured her that she won’t be paying anything.

They told me I won’t be paying anything because I won’t need to put my banking information. That my brother and dad will pay it, and I just have to act as a cosigner.

This is my first time doing something like this. Especially taking on a big commitment such as a home that I won’t even be living in.

But she felt doubtful after researching it.

So naturally, I started researching about it.

I learned that if my brother fails to pay it off on time and whatnot, I am financially responsible for it.

I asked my mom questions about what it would mean for me to co-sign.

I’m pretty hesitant because of my dad’s past history of being in debt.

Her mother did not take her reaction well.

She did not take it well. She said, why am I thinking negatively of things? If I really loved my dad, I wouldn’t even think this way and would just say yes.

I told her it’s because I want to think of things realistically and don’t want to be in debt in case my brother can’t pay things off.

Her mother accused her of being unfair and distrustful.

She said that my distrust in my dad is unfair.

She said this is the only help I’ll be giving towards my family and I can’t even do it.

(Mind you, I’m paying for my mom and siblings’ house insurance as well as my mom’s phone bill and other miscellaneous things that they need money for.)

Now, she said she doesn’t want me to do it at all because of how I reacted. AITA?

Is she wrong to think co-signing is a bad idea, or should she co-sign because family?

Let’s find out what others have to say about this on Reddit.

Do not co-sign the loan, advises this person.

Here’s more serious advice.

This person shares a valid point.

People are saying the same thing.

If you enjoyed this story, check out this post about a brother who doesn’t want to help his sister cover their aging father’s groceries.

Finally, short and straightforward.

After researching cosigning, OP refused to risk becoming responsible for a $200,000 mortgage her father and brother might be unable to pay.

Redditors overwhelmingly ruled her NTA and warned that the debt could damage her credit, military career, and ability to buy her own home.

Her family promised she would never pay a cent, which is a fascinating description of a contract specifically designed to make her pay.