The information provided on this website does not, and is not intended to, act as legal, financial or credit advice; instead, it is for general informational purposes only. Information on this website may not be current. This website may contain links to other third-party websites. Such links are only for the convenience of the reader, user or browser; we do not recommend or endorse the contents of any third-party sites. Readers of this website should contact their attorney, accountant or credit counselor to obtain advice with respect to their particular situation. No reader, user, or browser of this site should act or not act on the basis of information on this site. Always seek personal legal, financial or credit advice for your relevant jurisdiction. Only your individual attorney or advisor can provide assurances that the information contained herein – and your interpretation of it – is applicable or appropriate to your particular situation. Use of, and access to, this website or any of the links or resources contained within the site do not create an attorney-client or fiduciary relationship between the reader, user, or browser and website owner, authors, contributors, contributing firms, or their respective employers.
Sorting through financial matters after the death of a spouse can be a challenging experience. Are you, as a spouse responsible for credit card debt of the deceased spouse? How do you cancel credit cards after their death? How do you handle debt after death? When the heart is heavy with grief, it’s hard to focus on these things. The last thing you want to think about is protecting your loved one’s identity and forging a new credit life of your own.
But understanding the answers to these questions, and taking the steps to resolve your spouse’s financial matters are important issues to handle quickly and efficiently. Identity thieves comb obituary columns in search of victims. And establishing a credit identity separate from your spouse is essential for your own financial life going forward. This guide will show you how.
These days, an open, unchecked credit file can be an invitation for identity theft. Protect your loved one’s identity by alerting the three major credit reporting bureaus, Equifax, Experian and TransUnion, of your spouse’s death.
It’s best to put this request in writing. Your letter should include your name, address, phone number, and email address plus the full name, Social Security number and most recent address of your spouse. Your letter also should include the birthdate of your spouse and the date of death. Be sure to identify yourself as the surviving spouse and include a copy of your spouse’s death certificate.
In your letter, you’ll want to request that a deceased notice be added to your spouse’s credit report, along with the statement “Do not issue credit.”
To further safeguard your loved one’s credit file, and ultimately your own finances, request to be notified immediately of any new credit applications made in your spouse’s name. That way you’ll be alerted if a thief tries to open a credit account using your spouse’s name.
It’s also a good idea to request that a copy of your spouse’s credit report be sent to you so you’ll have a record of all your spouse’s open credit accounts.
The next step is contacting your spouse’s creditors and alerting them of his or her death.
You can make this initial contact by phone call if you wish, but it’s important to follow up in writing. Many credit card companies may require a copy of a death certificate. Include your spouse’s credit card account information in the letter and keep a copy of the letter for your records. Send the letter certified mail.
If the account is solely in your spouse’s name, you’ll want to inquire about how to cancel their credit card accounts. There are more details below on how to do that.
With a joint credit card account, both spouses are responsible for making payments. After the death of your spouse the responsibility falls squarely to you. You’ll need to continue to make payments on any outstanding balances.
With joint accounts, the surviving spouse has two main options: Close the account and pay off any balance, or request that the account be changed to an individual account in his or her name and continue to pay as agreed.
When transferring the account from a joint account to an individual account, a credit card issuer may take the opportunity to re-price the card. Be aware that the annual percentage rate, credit limit, and other terms of the account may change.
A surviving spouse that was simply an authorized user on his or her spouse’s individual credit card account may also contact the credit card issuer and request that a new card be issued in his or her name. Rather than transfer the credit terms of your spouse’s card over to you, a card company may require that you apply for a new card in your name, which will likely result in a credit check. (You can see whether you credit can handle the inquiry generated by a credit card application by viewing two of your credit scores for free on Credit.com.) The terms and conditions of your new card will be based on your own credit standing and income.
An authorized user is not responsible for the payment on the credit card account. But if there is a small outstanding balance on your spouse’s credit card and you’re interested in receiving a new card from that same credit card company, you may want to pay off the balance of your spouse’s card.
For credit cards issued solely in your spouse’s name, it’s simply a matter of contacting the card issuer and requesting that the card account be closed. As a surviving spouse, you are not responsible for the payment of these accounts and many credit card companies will write off the debt owed to them.
Be aware that in community property states, credit card accounts opened by either spouse may be considered joint accounts. So in some states a surviving spouse might be responsible for the payments of credit cards opened in their spouse’s name. You’ll want to check your state’s laws and speak with the issuer about any credit card debt after the death of your spouse.
Community property states include Arizona, California, Idaho, Louisiana, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, Washington and Wisconsin. If you live in these states and have questions about the payment responsibilities regarding your spouse’s credit card accounts, contact an attorney.
Other Debts
If your spouse has unpaid debts such as medical bills, a mortgage or other items, it is wise to address these accounts with an attorney. In some cases, payment can be made directly by the deceased’s estate. Each individual case can be different depending on what state the person lived in, what kind of debt is owed and how much, and whether the person died intestate.
Comments on articles and responses to those comments are not provided or commissioned by a bank advertiser. Responses have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by a bank advertiser. It is not a bank advertiser's responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.
Please note that our comments are moderated, so it may take a little time before you see them on the page. Thanks for your patience.
Try ExtraCredit for free
Over $100 of value. Cancel anytime.
How to Fix Errors on Your Credit Report
What many Americans don’t know is there may be a lot of errors and negative items on their credit report. In fact, it’s reported that as many as one in five Americans have mistakes on their credit report. Click here to learn about the strategies used to fix credit errors.
Lexington Law offers services to dispute unfair negative items. Call for a FREE consultation:
Do you know your credit score?
Credit.com receives compensation for the financial products and services advertised on this site if our users apply for and sign up for any of them. Compensation is not a factor in the substantive evaluation of any product.