What Happens to Debt When You Die?

4 Min Read | Last updated: July 5, 2024

A woman engages in conversation with an older couple, discussing important topics related to debt and its implications after death.

This article contains general information and is not intended to provide information that is specific to American Express products and services. Similar products and services offered by different companies will have different features and you should always read about product details before acquiring any financial product.

If you wonder what happens to your debt when you die, here’s a look at the basic rules and various exceptions to the rules.

At-A-Glance

Most debts are unlikely to be passed on to your heirs.
Different circumstances are treated differently, though. For example, if you leave someone a house with a mortgage, they have to continue paying that loan to keep the house.
Here’s a quick review of debt after death, including credit card debt.

Where does your debt go when you die? Unlike deeper questions about mortality, this one is subject to government regulation.

Getting straight to the point, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) provides the following assurance: “Family members typically are not obligated to pay the debts of a deceased relative from their own assets.”¹ So what does happen to your debt when you die? The basic rules are summarized below, followed by gray areas that may warrant further attention.

Basic Rules for Debt After a Death

Many Americans carry some kind of debt, whether a mortgage, student loan, credit card balance, medical bill, or other obligation. When they die, one of two things could happen:²

Payment: Debts are typically paid from the deceased's estate. An “executor” is appointed by you in your will (or by someone else, if necessary) to manage your estate as a legal entity, combining everything you own and everything you owe. The executor tallies up your assets in the form of cash and property, pays your debts (in some cases, by selling property), and distributes any remaining assets to heirs and other beneficiaries. Depending on the state where you live, this process, called “probate,” can take a few months or a couple of years.²
Nonpayment: If your debts are higher than the value of your estate, whatever you cannot pay is usually voided, with the companies you owe writing off the loss.

What About Credit Card Debt When You Die?

In either the payment or nonpayment scenario, the executor has to pay some types of creditors before others, until running out of funds. For example, funeral expenses and estate taxes, if any, are often given priority.³ And secured loans (backed by your house, car, or other collateral) usually take precedence over unsecured credit card debt and personal loans.⁴ So, credit card debt is at the back of the line, but before your heirs and other beneficiaries.

Not-So-Basic Circumstances Surrounding Debt After a Death

You or your heirs may find, however, that the basic rules don’t apply to you. Some types of accounts are treated differently than others. Regulations can vary by state. Your estate lawyer may have drawn up legal documents such as trusts, written to change what happens to your debt when you die. Here are some different circumstances:

Joint or cosigned accounts: If your spouse or someone else has jointly taken out a mortgage or other loan with you – or cosigned your personal loan or other account – they may still be responsible for the debt when you die.⁴
Community property: A handful of states, including big ones like California and Texas, have community property laws. This means that your surviving spouse could be responsible for paying back your debt, no matter whose name is on the account.⁴ In most other states, creditors cannot automatically collect your debt from your spouse.⁵
Student loans: Federal student loans are usually erased if the student or parent who took out the loan dies.⁵
Retirement accounts: If you designate an heir or other beneficiary on your IRA or 401(k) documents, funds in those accounts would not be available to creditors.⁴
Home loans: Your beneficiary would be responsible for any home equity loan on a house that you leave to them – for example, taking over monthly payments. In case of a mortgage, whoever inherits a house would also have to take over monthly payments if they want to keep the house.⁴
Trusts and insurance policies: Working with an estate lawyer, you could place some of your assets in a trust, a legal ownership change that might shield the assets from creditors. Life insurance policies may also be shielded.⁴

Notifying Creditors After Death

Upon your death, a family member or the executor would need to notify creditors, by sending them a copy of your death certificate. The creditors, in turn, would inform the major credit bureaus, for reasons including fraud prevention. Credit bureaus could also be contacted directly to update your credit report.⁴

Unwarranted Circumstances Surrounding Debt After Death

Collectors have only limited rights to contact your relatives or executor under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA).¹ Still, collection agencies have been known to pursue payment of a deceased person’s debts, regardless of the circumstances. Family members who are informed about the basics and exceptions above are better equipped to field collectors’ calls, during a difficult time.

If collectors overstep their limits or if a beneficiary wants them to stop calling, the FTC recommends sending the collection agency a letter by certified mail, including “return receipt,” and reporting any further problems to the state attorney general’s office.¹

What If Someone Owes You Money When You Die?

On the other hand, if someone owes you money when you die, they are still required to pay – to your estate.

The Takeaway

The day could come when you or your heirs begin wondering what happens to your debt when you die. Most of it is unlikely to be passed on to your heirs. But circumstances vary, so it’s a good idea to read up on them.⁶

¹ “Debts and Deceased Relatives,” Federal Trade Commission

² “Planning for the Future,” United States Department of the Interior

³ “How does an executor pay beneficiaries of the estate?,” Trust & Will

⁴ “What Happens to Debt When You Die?,” Experian

⁵ “Discharge Due to Death,” United States Department of Education

⁶ “How to Collect a Debt Owed to the Decedent,” Racine Olson Law

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Karen Lynch is a journalist who has covered global business, technology, finance, and related public policy issues for more than 30 years.

All Credit Intel content is written by freelance authors and commissioned and paid for by American Express.

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