 TITLE: Checklist: What to Do When a Loved One Dies CONTENT: Understand What Happens to Their Credit and Debt\n------------------------------------------------\n*   When you report your loved one's death to their creditors, the creditors will notify the credit bureaus the next time they send an account update. The SSA will also notify credit bureaus of your family member's death.\n    *   You can also notify Experian, TransUnion or Equifax yourself when you request your family member's credit report. Their credit report will not be deleted until the final debt falls off of the report.\n*   What happens to outstanding debts your loved one had? You may be responsible for their debts if:\n    *   You had joint credit accounts or loans with them, or cosigned on a credit account or loan with them\n    *   Your spouse or partner passed away and you live in a community property state (Arizona, California, Idaho, Louisiana, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, Washington and Wisconsin) or live in Alaska and held your property in community.\n*   If you are not in a community property state, you generally are not responsible for a spouse or partner's debt after they die. Instead, any debt will be paid out of their estate.\n    *   Laws vary from state to state, so contact your state attorney general's office or consult a lawyer familiar with estate law to determine what debts you need to pay.\n    *   Do not make any decisions or payments until you determine whether you are responsible for the debt; in some situations, making a payment on a debt can make you legally responsible for the entire debt.\n*   Don't use your loved one's credit cards unless you are a joint account holder. END