{"ok":true,"canonical_url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/spousal-consent","api_url":"https://dealroom.so/api/public/glossary/spousal-consent","data_freshness":{"sba_records_through":"2026-05-31","fdic_records_through":"2026-03-31","dealroom_last_updated":"2026-06-15","timezone":"America/Chicago"},"source_summary":["Public SBA 7(a) loan records","FDIC institution data","DealRoom lender and franchise enrichment"],"term":{"slug":"spousal-consent","term":"Spousal Consent","group":"People and paperwork","definition":"Spousal consent is a document where your spouse acknowledges the debt you're taking on, especially if marital assets could be affected by a personal guarantee. It prevents future claims against the collateral.","what_it_means":"Even if your spouse isn't a co-applicant or guarantor, the lender will likely require them to sign a Spousal Consent form. This is common in community property states or when jointly held assets are pledged as collateral. It ensures they can't later claim an interest in assets used to secure the SBA loan.","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/spousal-consent","official_sources":[{"slug":"13-cfr-part-120","title":"13 CFR Part 120 — Business Loans","official_url":"https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-13/chapter-I/part-120","official_label":"View on eCFR","authority_tier":1,"publisher":"Office of the Federal Register","source_guide_url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/sources/13-cfr-part-120"},{"slug":"sop-50-10","title":"SOP 50 10 — Lender and Development Company Loan Programs","official_url":"https://www.sba.gov/document/sop-50-10-lender-development-company-loan-programs","official_label":"View on SBA.gov","authority_tier":2,"publisher":"U.S. Small Business Administration","source_guide_url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/sources/sop-50-10"}],"related":[{"slug":"personal-guarantee","term":"Personal guarantee","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/personal-guarantee"},{"slug":"collateral","term":"Collateral","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/collateral"},{"slug":"jointly-and-severally-liable","term":"Jointly and Severally Liable","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/jointly-and-severally-liable"},{"slug":"guaranty","term":"Guaranty","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/guaranty"}],"related_questions":[{"question":"Is member or board consent needed for an SBA partner buyout?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/is-member-or-board-consent-needed-for-an-sba-partner-buyout"},{"question":"What specific collateral modifications can a lender approve without seeking prior SBA consent?","url":"https://dealroom.so/for-lenders/questions/what-specific-collateral-modifications-can-a-lender-approve-without-seeking-prior-sba-cons"},{"question":"Which specific collateral modifications can a lender approve without seeking prior SBA consent?","url":"https://dealroom.so/for-lenders/questions/which-specific-collateral-modifications-can-a-lender-approve-without-seeking-prior-sba-con"},{"question":"Who must provide consent for a business to obtain life insurance on an individual?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/who-must-provide-consent-for-a-business-to-obtain-life-insurance-on-an-individual"},{"question":"Does the lender need to collect separate consent forms for background checks from non-owner spouses?","url":"https://dealroom.so/for-lenders/questions/does-the-lender-need-to-collect-separate-consent-forms-for-background-checks-from-non-owne"},{"question":"What happens if a seller note on full standby is paid off early without prior lender consent?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/what-happens-if-a-seller-note-on-full-standby-is-paid-off-early-without-prior-lender-conse"}]},"caveats":["Definitions represent DealRoom's plain-English interpretation for buyers; verify regulatory terms against the official SBA and eCFR sources listed.","Not legal, tax, or financial advice, and not an SBA eligibility determination."],"citation":{"label":"DealRoom.so Glossary — Spousal Consent","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/spousal-consent","source_type":"DealRoom Data"}}