Removing his name without refinancing is not possible, unless there is such a clause in your mortgage, and I've never seen one. What the bank could do, if it wanted to, would be to refinance the house for the remaining 25+ years at the same interest rate and not charge you any closing costs. This would leave you with the same payment. Is that likely? --Don't ask us; ask your bank.
If you D, then you don't refi in two years, he would have to go to court in order to enforce the settlement agreement. This won't happen until he needs the house off his credit report, to buy a house or something big.
The "hold harmless" clause in my settlement agreement basically says that if XW defaults on the mortgage, and the bank comes to me for payment, and I pay, then she owes me that money. It could even be deducted from her alimony (which is more than the mortgage). What it does not do is actually remove me from the mortgage--it is as if I co-signed on her loan. I'm not expected to pay it, but my income is guaranteeing the loan regardless, and it does show on my credit report.
At some point this may affect my ability to borrow money, but a house for me is a long way off.
