{"ok":true,"canonical_url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/spousal-guaranty","api_url":"https://dealroom.so/api/public/glossary/spousal-guaranty","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-guaranty","term":"Spousal Guaranty","group":"People and paperwork","definition":"If your spouse owns 20% or more of the business or is a Key Principal, they must personally guarantee the SBA loan. This ensures they are equally liable for the debt, even if they aren't directly involved in daily operations.","what_it_means":"The SBA requires personal guaranties from all owners with 20% or more equity, and any Key Principals, which can include a spouse. Your lender will require your spouse to sign a personal guaranty, making their personal assets available to repay the loan if the business defaults. Understand this joint liability before closing.","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/spousal-guaranty","official_sources":[{"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"},{"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"}],"related":[{"slug":"personal-guarantee","term":"Personal guarantee","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/personal-guarantee"},{"slug":"guaranty","term":"Guaranty","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/guaranty"},{"slug":"key-principal","term":"Key principal","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/key-principal"},{"slug":"co-borrower","term":"Co-borrower","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/co-borrower"}],"related_questions":[{"question":"What impact does a lender's failure to obtain a required personal guaranty have on a guaranty purchase request?","url":"https://dealroom.so/for-lenders/questions/what-impact-does-a-lender-s-failure-to-obtain-a-required-personal-guaranty-have-on-a-guara"},{"question":"What is the impact on the SBA guaranty if a lender failed to obtain a required personal guaranty from a principal?","url":"https://dealroom.so/for-lenders/questions/what-is-the-impact-on-the-sba-guaranty-if-a-lender-failed-to-obtain-a-required-personal-gu"},{"question":"What impact does a lender's failure to obtain a required personal guaranty from a principal have on a 7(a) guaranty purchase request?","url":"https://dealroom.so/for-lenders/questions/what-impact-does-a-lender-s-failure-to-obtain-a-required-personal-guaranty-from-a-principa"},{"question":"What does 'SBA guaranty' mean for my business loan application?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-loans/basics/what-does-sba-guaranty-mean-for-my-business-loan-application"},{"question":"What is the purpose of the SBA's loan guaranty?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-loans/basics/what-is-the-purpose-of-the-sba-s-loan-guaranty"},{"question":"What are the personal guaranty requirements for owners and affiliates?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/what-are-the-personal-guaranty-requirements-for-owners-and-affiliates"}]},"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 Guaranty","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/spousal-guaranty","source_type":"DealRoom Data"}}