What happens to joint credit cards after one spouse dies?

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Losing a spouse can upend nearly every aspect of daily life, from household routines to long-term financial plans. In the midst of handling funeral arrangements and countless administrative tasks, bank accounts may need to be updated, insurance claims may need to be filed and estate matters have to be addressed. Amid that long to-do list, shared credit card accounts can easily be overlooked, even when they require immediate attention.

That's an important issue in any economic landscape, but it's especially important right now, as many couples are carrying revolving credit card balances to keep up with the rising cost of living. With inflation rapidly driving up the cost of housing, food and other essentials, many spouses now depend on shared credit accounts to help manage everyday expenses. When one of those account holders dies, though, that debt can suddenly become a source of confusion.

So what exactly happens to joint credit card accounts if one of the borrowers dies? The type of account, state laws and the surviving spouse's legal relationship to the debt can all influence what happens next. Below, we'll outline what to know.

What happens next depends first on whether the account is actually a joint credit card. While many couples refer to any shared card as "joint," that's not always the case. Some accounts have two joint borrowers who are equally responsible for the debt, while others have one primary cardholder and an authorized user. That distinction plays a major role in determining who is responsible for the balance after one spouse dies.

If the account is a true joint credit card, the surviving spouse generally becomes solely responsible for the remaining balance. Both spouses originally agreed to repay the debt, so the obligation doesn't end when one borrower dies. The surviving spouse must continue making payments and will typically work with the credit card issuer to update the account, which may include removing the deceased spouse's name or converting the account based on the lender's policies.

The situation differs, though, if the deceased spouse was the primary cardholder and the surviving spouse was an authorized user. In that case, the authorized user generally isn't responsible for repaying the debt. The outstanding balance typically becomes a liability of the deceased person's estate instead, though community property laws in certain states can create exceptions.

For many households, the death of a