My mother has several credit cards with high balances. My name is also on her checking account to be able to write checks. Will I become responsible for her credit card debts after she is deceased, and can the credit card companies come after my assets?
If you did not sign the credit card account agreements as a co-debtor or guarantor, you will not be liable for any balances on those accounts. If there are balances owed on those accounts and your mother dies, the card issuers could file a claim against her estate that would take precedence over any beneficiaries' interest.
However, the card issuers would have no claim against your personal assets. The checking account and your authority to write checks on it doesn't change that fact.
BankingQuestions.com is a free service made possible by the generous support of our advertisers. Advertisers are not responsible for site content. Please help us keep BankingQuestions.com FREE by supporting our advertisers. When you see an ad for a product or service you may have an interest in, click through to learn more.
Accounts
Article
Q&A
Podcast
Video
Blog
Discussions
PDF
Powerpoint
If you did not sign the credit card account agreements as a co-debtor or guarantor, you will not be liable for any balances on those accounts. If there are balances owed on those accounts and your mother dies, the card issuers could file a claim against her 