What happens if you don't pay a deceased person's credit card debt?

Skipping the bill on a late relative's card may sound reckless, but it could be the right move to make. Getty Images/iStockphoto When a loved one dies, financial questions often arrive alongside grief over the loss. Bank accounts must be closed, insurance claims need to be filed and final bills continue to arrive long after funeral arrangements have been made. In turn, those administrative responsibilities can feel particularly overwhelming, especially if the deceased person had any outstanding debt . And, right now, it's common to encounter that issue. Borrowers are carrying record levels of household debt currently, after all, and credit card balances remain elevated, meaning that it's increasingly common for surviving relatives to discover that a parent, spouse or other family member left behind unpaid obligations. But when a credit card statement shows up in the mail after a death, the question of who is supposed to pay it tends to follow. That answer varies based on a few different factors. So, before reaching for a checkbook, it's important to understand what happens to credit card debt after death, who may be responsible for it and what can occur if those balances ultimately go unpaid. Find out how to start tackling your high-rate debt today . What happens if you don't pay a deceased person's credit card debt? In most cases, a deceased person's credit card debt becomes the responsibility of their estate, not their surviving family members. …