What happens to a mortgage when a marriage ends -- is it transferred to one person? Generally, no. A loan applied for jointly (by both spouses) is not changed when a divorce happens.
When you apply for a loan, lenders look at your financial resources -- not your marital status. They're interested in your credit and your income, and neither of those should change directly as a result of divorce (although they can be affected indirectly).
Even if a separating couple agrees to put the debt in one person's name, lenders may not want to play along. They've got two people to come after if the loan doesn't get repaid, and they're hesitant to let one of them off the hook. Loans generally need to be refinanced (get rid of the old loan and get a brand new one) if you really want to cut ties after a divorce.
Marketplace Money paints a picture of how a mortgage can outlast a marriage. Things are especially challenging today with tight lending standards and lower home prices. If you're separating from a spouse, talk with an experienced lender to find out how to make things as painless as possible.