After a loved one dies, who is responsible for his or her remaining credit card debt? This is a question you are unlikely to be thinking about in the days and weeks after the death, but it is one you will ultimately need to face.
In many cases, family members are not responsible for the debt, but there are a few exceptions. Luckily, while you and other family members sort out the financial impact of the death, you are protected by the Federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), which prevents debt collectors from using abusive or deceptive practices to collect a debt. According to the FDCPA, a debt collector might be a collection agency, a lawyer who regularly collects debts or a company that buys debts and later attempts to collect payment.