Am I responsible for my deceased husband's credit card debts?: My doing a credit report on myself - five (5) entries concerning accounts I had supposedly opened.

I never opened or signed for anything dealing with any credit cards.

My husband died very suddenly a little over two years ago - in a single car accident.

We had just moved to a new town and county - and we did not have our mail forwarded.

All of this had a dramatic affect on my health and my doctor called my condition "Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome."

I did a receive life insurance benefit.

Recently I received a telephone call from a collector - and I told them I didn't have any credit cards - that was when I got concerned and ran a credit report on myself.

I live in Missouri - which is not a "community property" state.

Am I responsible?

What should I do now!

Thank you,

B. Gray

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RE: Am I responsible for my deceased husband's credit card debts?

My doing a credit report on myself - five (5) entries concerning accounts I had supposedly opened.

I never opened or signed for anything dealing with any credit cards.

My husband died very suddenly a little over two years ago - in a single car accident.

We had just moved to a new town and county - and we did not have our mail forwarded.

All of this had a dramatic affect on my health and my doctor called my condition "Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome."

I did a receive life insurance benefit.

Recently I received a telephone call from a collector - and I told them I didn't have any credit cards - that was when I got concerned and ran a credit report on myself.

I live in Missouri - which is not a "community property" state.

Am I responsible?

What should I do now!

Thank you,

B. Gray

Asked by Anonymous on 2008-08-30
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Besides the fact that you are now currently living in this place, it all depends on where you were married. If you are the next of kin, then yes you are responsible for his debts. Community property only refers to property acquired during the marrige( house, car, stocks) objects that hold monetary value. Debt, however falls under a whole different category and gets pretty sticky. By law if there is any proof that you benefited from the debts incurred, such as vacations, jewelry, cars and other gifts, then yes you are bound to the debt. But only the debt that was 'for you'. If not, and you are not co-signed on the credit cards or your name is not on anything to do with them, then its someone else's problem. My advice is to get a consultation from a lawyer, which will cost you an average of 50-100 dollars to find out.
Good Luck!

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