Credit Cards After a Death: Notify the Issuer and Who Pays

To notify a credit card company of a death, call the issuer and ask for its deceased accounts, estate or bereavement team. You will need the death certificate and, if you are the executor, proof of your authority. The balance is generally paid from the estate, not by family members. There are a few exceptions, covered below, and they depend on how the account was set up.

What should you do first?

Stop all use of the card. Cut it up or keep it in a safe place, and cancel any card that is linked to a digital wallet. Then list every card the person had before you start calling. Forgotten store cards are easy to miss.

1. Gather account details. Check paper statements, email, and the last few months of bank statements for payments to card companies. Store cards and buy-now-pay-later accounts count as well.
2. Order certified death certificates. Most issuers want a certified copy. Our guide on how many death certificates to order can help you plan.
3. Decide who is calling. Anyone can usually report the death, but only the executor or administrator can discuss or settle the balance. See our guide on what an executor does.
4. Call each issuer. Use the number on the back of the card or the issuer's website. Ask for the team that handles deceased accounts.
5. Follow up in writing and keep a log of each call, the person's name and any reference number.

What do credit card companies ask for?

Each issuer has its own list, so ask before you send anything. Common requests are:

If there is no probate estate yet, say so. Some issuers will explain what they need from a family member, and small estates often have their own process. Our guide to small estate probate covers it.

Who is responsible for the balance?

The estate is. The CFPB says that a person's debts are generally paid from the money or property left in the estate. If there is nothing left, or the estate can't pay, the debt generally won't be paid. Family members are not expected to use their own money.

You may be personally responsible if you:

• Co-signed the account.
• Held a joint account. This is different from being an authorized user.
• Are a surviving spouse in a community property state. The CFPB lists Arizona, California, Idaho, Louisiana, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, Washington and Wisconsin, plus Alaska where spouses have a special agreement. Rules differ by state, and some states have "necessaries" laws that make spouses responsible for certain costs such as healthcare.
• Are an executor who didn't follow probate rules. The FTC notes that an executor who ignores the legal process can be held responsible.

If you're unsure which applies, a probate attorney or a legal aid office can tell you. Our guide to debt when someone dies goes further.

What happens to authorized users?

The CFPB says that being an authorized user does not generally obligate you to pay the debt. The difference from a co-signer or joint holder is important. If a collector says you co-signed, ask for proof and check your credit report.

Authorized users should still stop using the card and ask the issuer what will happen. The agreement was with the cardholder, and charges made after death may be treated as unauthorized. Issuers handle this differently. Some close the account, and some let you apply for a card in your own name.

Should you pay the balance yourself?

Try not to. It is tempting to "clear the name," but you don't have to pay, and you may not be able to get the money back. The estate's debts are paid in an order set by state law, and in many states funeral costs, taxes and secured debts rank ahead of credit cards. If the estate has less money than debts, paying one creditor from your own pocket can leave you out of pocket with no way to recover it.

If you're the executor, don't distribute the estate to heirs until the debts are dealt with. A probate attorney can tell you the rules where you live. Our probate costs guide also explains what lawyers typically charge.

What if a debt collector calls?

Collectors must follow federal debt collection rules. The CFPB explains that a collector may contact the executor or administrator but cannot suggest that you personally owe the money unless one of the exceptions applies. If you aren't the executor, a collector can only ask how to reach the person who is.

• Ask for written details of the debt. Legitimate collectors provide them in the first conversation or within five days.
• If you think the debt is wrong, dispute it in writing within 30 days of getting the collector's written notice.
• You can tell a collector in writing to stop contacting you. The FTC says a phone call isn't enough.
• Be careful of callers who won't give details or who pressure you. The CFPB warns that scammers use obituaries to find targets.

What about rewards points and credit balances?

Rewards are governed by each issuer's terms. Some let the estate redeem points as a statement credit or cash, some transfer them to a family member, and some cancel them when the account closes. Ask before the account is closed. Our guide on loyalty programs after death covers airline miles and similar rewards.

If the card ends up with a credit balance, for example after a refund, federal rules require the issuer to refund it within seven business days of a written request. Ask for the refund to be paid to the estate, not to a personal account.

Don't forget the recurring charges

Subscriptions, insurance, utilities and memberships billed to the card can continue after a death. Check the last few statements and cancel or move each one. Our guides to subscriptions and streaming services walk through the common ones. Ask the issuer to dispute any charges that post after the date of death.

What to do next

1. List every card and gather the account numbers.
2. Call each issuer's deceased accounts team and ask for their document list.
3. Notify the banks using our guide to notifying banks after a death.
4. Keep a record of each call and letter so the executor can account for it later.