credit card debt after death
Is my wife responsible for my credit card debt should I die ? House is hers and I have no estate or valuables . Cards are in my name .
Terry Says
Don’t die — that’s no way to get out of credit card debt!!
Seriously, take a look at your credit report and hers. Get it free from www.AnnualCreditReport.com — without subscribing to any prevention services — Get each report from at least one of the three bureaus.
Then you will know for sure if her credit is separate or if she is considered a co-holder on your credit cards. That would make all the difference in this situation.
But that’s not the only consideration. In community property states –9 of them — that credit card debt would be considered “community property” and her responsibility if you die. Read this article from CreditCards.com for details.
Then to be sure where you stand, I would contact the nearest local office of the National Foundation for Credit Counseling by calling 800-388-2227. That will put you in touch with the nearest local office and you can ask them about the legal situation in your state of residence.
