Does the lender have any legal obligation to inform the co signer of late payments and how delinquent can it get before they try to get the co-signer to make payments in lieu of the primary?

Lenders are generally not legally obligated to inform a co-signer of late payments unless the loan agreement specifically stipulates such notification. However, many lenders may choose to notify co-signers as a courtesy, especially when the primary borrower fails to make payments. The timeline for when a lender might seek payment from the co-signer varies, but typically, they may begin to contact the co-signer after a few missed payments, often around 30 to 90 days delinquent, depending on the lender’s policies.