Is my mother responsible for my deceased father's credit card bills?

Question

Added info: She isnt on the account, nor is she the executor. Sorry. I shouldve been more specific.

Answer 1

I think so. Someone has to pay (the creditors are still owed their money). Usually, the executor would pay out of the estate, but in your case, your Mom is probably the executor and will own everything your Dad had. My guess would be that she would owe back for all his debts.

Answer 2

Debts of the deceased should be taken care of by his estate -- not surviving relatives. Send this credit card and any other debt, a letter with a photocopy of the death certificate. The will has to be probated and that is when all the debts and assets are dealt with. Debts will have to be paid before any assets can be distributed to heirs. If there are not enough assets to cover the debts, the unsecured debt is the last on the list. If you mother is joint on this credit card account, she will be held liable for full payment. But make this jerk company go thru the whole probation process first. If you paid with your personal funds, you can request reimbursement from the estate. But I don't think you have any recourse to get the money back from the collection agency. By the way, some credit card companies thrive on harrassing surviving relatives about credit card debts. They will say and do anything to get money.

Answer 3

Yes, if credit cards were in both names and statements were in both names even if each one had their own credit card name on it . Only when cards are issued prior to marriage and original contract is not changed she would not be responsible.She would only be responsible if she signed using his card.
Otherwise there is something called common property in marriage, then the
judge will decide about debts when the estate is probated.
flamerich954

Answer 4

Once married, people share the assets and the debts.
She is responsible unless maybe, she can prove they were obtained covertly (without her knowledge) but credit card companies are a hard sell. They just want the $$ for the stuff that was bought.

Answer 5

In Texas she would be responsible for her late husbands credit card debts. This is a community property state. Whats yours is mine.

Answer 6

You have to find out if she was a cosigner. If not, the bank has to charge-off the accounts. She would not be responsible.

Answer 7

Maybe. If she's on the account. If not, call the companies and tell them he is deceased. They may write it off.

Answer 8

Unfortunately, if the charges where charged while they were married, yes. She is liable.

Answer 9

then no, she isn't. have her send a death certificate to his creditors or whoever he owed.