Does debt die with you?

[ReallyReallyNo]

If a person died in debt with no assets what happens to the debts? Would they chase the persons spouse?
If you knew you were going to die what steps could you take to stop creditor action before you pass so that your family don’t have to deal with anything regarding your debts?

When someone dies all of their assets and all of their debts pass to their estate. Someone is appointed as executor (their job is to sort everything out). Their first job is to pay off debts. Then they distribute remaining assets as per the will/intestacy rules.

Spouses or others have zero legal obligation for unpaid debts. Sometimes debt collection agencies try to force family members to pay (I have personal experience of this) but they have no legal right to do so.

Depends on what country you are in... in the Uk no. But in Greece I think they pass on unfortunately.

My understanding is that credit cards etc the debt dies with you but if it is gas and electric that is owed on a house shared with say a spouse then that spouse will be liable for the debt as they lived there. There was a section on Money Box yesterday on this. Have. Listen again on BBC Sounds.

You can refuse an inheritance- be that credit or debt. You can't pick and choose though (eg- "I'll have the house but not the mortgage, ta")