My brother died leaving a total of $70K credit card debts. His wife received some life insurance benefit which exceeds $70K. Is his wife liable for the credit card debts even if she is not a co-signer? There is no estate except a residence which is a Joint tenancy property and is now solely owned by the wife and because of the decline in housing value the mortgage exceeds the market value.

Hello paul:

You say there is no estate, but there is. Depending on the value of the house, and depending on when they bought it, and depending on how much is still owed, there IS some value to his estate. Whatever that value is will have to be paid on the debt.

There should have been a probate proceeding wherein these items would have been considered. That didn't happen?? Your sister-in-law needs an estate lawyer.

excon