Dear Liz: When a spouse dies, is the surviving spouse responsible for outstanding credit card debt from a card issued only in the deceased’s name?
Answer: In community property states — including Arizona, California, Idaho, Louisiana, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, Washington and Wisconsin — debts incurred during marriage are usually considered owed by both spouses, even if only one spouse’s name is on the account. In other states, debts can be considered separate, but creditors typically are paid out of the dead person’s estate before any remaining assets go to heirs.