Credit card debt after death?

Q. My wife died recently. She had some credit cards in her name that were only in her name and that only she used. Am I responsible for paying them off?
A. Generally, if you are not a joint account holder, you are not responsible to pay off the debt. But if your wife had property in her own name that was not held as husband and wife, or she had other valuable assets, a creditor could open an estate, sue the estate, and ask the court to be awarded a judgment so the creditor can collect.

Q. I keep hearing the term “zombie debt.” What is a “zombie debt”?
A. A “zombie debt” is a debt that is sold or transferred from one company to another. Each time it is transferred, the holder of the debt initiates collection action, even if the debt is very old and actions to collect are past the statute of limitations. These are called “zombie debts” because even though the time to collect is long past and the debts are “dead,” they arise over and over.

This column is for general informational purposes only. If you need help, call your local bar association for a referral. Low-income people may qualify for free legal help in some civil cases from Maryland Legal Aid. http://www.mdlab.org/
Are you a credit-wise consumer with a question? Send it to Louise Carwell, c/o Exhibit A, wayne.countryman@exhibitAnews.com