My daughter had student loans, but at the end of a school year, she was kidnapped, and taken to CA, where we tracked her, and found her several weeks later.  When the police found her, she had been left in a forest area, with no water, and was hours from death.  She had been drugged much of the time, and it affected her mind, she could no longer concentrate, and still can not.  Is there any way to get her student loans reversed, as she can not work at anything above a minimum wage job, but her credit is ruined from student loan defaults.

Please accept my condolences.  I am terribly sorry for your tragedy.

Federal student loans can be discharged for borrowers who become very seriously disabled after attending school. It is called a “total and permanent disability discharge”.  The National Consumer Law Center makes available a Disability Discharge Self-Help Packet and more information about discharge rules for borrowers.  I love NCLC and thank my lucky stars for them every single day.

Private student loans do not have the same protection, although some private lenders (including Sallie Mae and Wells Fargo that I’m aware of) now offer some disability discharges.  You should be in touch with the lenders directly as soon as you can.