Legal Question in Credit and Debt Law in Wisconsin

credit card liability

In wisconsin, if a spouse incurs credit card debt or credit accounts in his or her name only (other spouse did not sign), then debtor spouse dies, is surviving spouse liable to pay those debts? Note; debtors estate is worth less than $600,000.


Asked on 10/10/01, 9:29 am

1 Answer from Attorneys

Thomas Schober Schober Schober & Mitchell, S.C.

Re: credit card liability

Most credit card companies are well versed in WI's

marital property law. Consequently, even if credit

is granted to only one spouse, it is usually done

"in the interest of the marriage." Each spouse would

then be responsible for 1/2 of the debt, with the

decedent's estate responsible for her 1/2. As to

whether the creditor can get anything out of the

decedent's estate, it will depent on how the decedent's

property was held. If it was all survivorship

Marital Property with her spouse, it may pass

directly to him, not subject to creditor's claims.

However, if there is any marital property that is

not "survivorship" property, or any other individual

property of the decedent, such creditors could file

claims against the estate and recover.

Read more
Answered on 11/26/01, 1:50 pm


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