Which act designates marital status as a protected class?

The Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA) designates marital status as a protected class by prohibiting discrimination in any aspect of credit transactions based on specific characteristics, which include marital status. This means that lenders cannot deny credit, alter terms, or impose conditions based on whether an applicant is single, married, divorced, or widowed. This protection aims to ensure that all individuals have equal access to credit and are evaluated based on their creditworthiness rather than personal circumstances unrelated to financial responsibility.

In contrast, the Fair Housing Act primarily focuses on preventing discrimination in housing and real estate transactions based on categories like race, color, religion, sex, disability, familial status, and national origin, but does not specifically address marital status as a protected class. Similarly, the Dodd-Frank Act primarily addresses broader financial reforms and regulations following the 2008 financial crisis, without specifically designating marital status as a protected category. The SAFE Act relates to the licensing and registration of mortgage loan originators and does not encompass anti-discrimination provisions like those found in the ECOA.