Full question:
My husband and I have no debt together. He has his own credit cards, debt and I have mine. However, I am an authorized user on several of his cards. In the event of his death, am I responsible for any of his debt? The credit that does not have my name on it ? What about the cards that I am authorized user. Am I responsible for that payment? This is a second marriage for both of us.
- Category: Marriage
- Date:
- State: Arkansas
Answer:
Generally, you are not liable for your husband's individual debts, including credit cards that are solely in his name. This holds true as long as you are not a co-signer, guarantor, or surety on those accounts, and you do not live in a community property state. In community property states, however, the non-debtor spouse's assets may be at risk in certain situations, such as bankruptcy or litigation.
As for the credit cards where you are an authorized user, you typically do not have legal responsibility for the debt. Authorized users can use the card but do not sign the application or agree to repay the debt. Therefore, if your husband passes away, you would not be responsible for his debts, including those on which you are an authorized user.
This content is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Legal statutes mentioned reflect the law at the time the content was written and may no longer be current. Always verify the latest version of the law before relying on it.