Is a surviving spouse responsible for deceased spouses credit card debt if their name wasn' t on the account?

This link will tell you what you need to know.
Can Credit Card Debt be Inherited? (http://www.wisegeek.com/can-credit-card-debt-be-inherited.htm)

is a surviving spouse responsible for deceased spouses credit card debt if their name wasn' t on the account?


In some States, yes. Where are you?

In other States, yes, if the card was used for medical or necessary expenses. It varies.

In some States, yes. Where are you?

In other States, yes, if the card was used for medical or necessary expenses. It varies.
Do you have this rigged where I can't just say, "Good answer, Judy."? Good answer, Judy.

While the surviving spouse may not be responsible, isn't the estate of the deceased responsible? So anything that is not owned jointly may need to go to cover the credit card before it goes to the spouse? Which, kind of, makes the spouse at least feel like they are paying off the credit cards out of money that should go to them?

This link will tell you what you need to know.
Can Credit Card Debt be Inherited? (http://www.wisegeek.com/can-credit-card-debt-be-inherited.htm)

Unfortunately that link doesn't really cover all the issues. It really doesn't answer the question about whether a surviving spouse can be held responsible, nor does it deal with the estate issue.

While the surviving spouse may not be responsible, isn't the estate of the deceased responsible? So anything that is not owned jointly may need to go to cover the credit card before it goes to the spouse? Which, kinda, makes the spouse at least feel like they are paying off the credit cards out of money that should go to them?


In a way, yes, but it comes off the top of the estate and there's no individual liability (in some States) on the part of the spouse.

People have posted when the spouse was left with SS and nothing else and I was trying to cover all the bases - but, yes, I suppose it works out that way.