Can your spouse inherit your credit card debt?

Unpaid credit card debt is generally handled through the estate, but there are exceptions to that rule. mesh cube/Getty Images Financial planning conversations tend to focus heavily on topics like building wealth, growing and protecting your retirement savings and making sure loved ones are taken care of financially after you die. What those discussions don't always address, though, are the liabilities that may be left behind. And, for the millions of Americans carrying high-rate credit card balances right now, that's an increasingly important omission. The past several years of elevated borrowing costs have resulted in many borrowers carrying increasingly larger revolving balances. Household debt is also sitting at a record high currently, which has raised even more questions about debt responsibility after death, particularly for couples who may assume that everything, including credit card debt, automatically transfers to the surviving spouse. The reality isn't quite that simple, though. Unpaid credit card debt is generally handled through a deceased person's estate, but there are important exceptions to that rule. Do those exceptions include your spouse inheriting your credit card debt, though? That's what we'll examine below. Find out which debt relief options you could qualify for today . Can your spouse inherit your credit card debt? When it comes to whether your spouse will automatically inherit your credit card debt after you die, the short answer is no. …