How to find a loved one’s debts after death

Quick answerPull the deceased person’s credit reports from all three bureaus, read the mail and statements, and give notice to creditors as your state requires. Debts are paid from the estate. Family members generally aren’t personally liable unless they co-signed, held a joint account or state law says so.

1. Get the credit reports and flag the fileNational

A surviving spouse or the executor can request the deceased person’s credit report by mail from each bureau. Send the deceased’s legal name, Social Security number, dates of birth and death, last address and a copy of the death certificate. An executor or other non-spouse also sends proof of authority (court letters, or the will, executor agreement or power of attorney paperwork, depending on the bureau) and a copy of their own ID. Reporting the death marks the file as deceased, which helps prevent identity theft. The bureau you notify tells the other two, but you must request each bureau’s report separately. The bureaus also get periodic death notices from the Social Security Administration.

Bureau	Mail to
Equifax	P.O. Box 105139, Atlanta, GA 30348-5139
Experian	P.O. Box 4500, Allen, TX 75013 (online upload also offered)
TransUnion	P.O. Box 2000, Chester, PA 19016

Spouse or executor may request the report; send the death certificate or letters testamentary; an executor includes the court document. Source: Equifax – Credit report for a deceased person, checked Oct 29, 2026.
Non-spouse sends ID plus the will, executor agreement or power of attorney; file marked deceased within five business days; TransUnion notifies the other two; bureaus also hear from the SSA. Source: TransUnion – Reporting a death, checked Oct 29, 2026.
Only a spouse, executor or other authorized person can get the report; documents required. Source: Experian – Deceased person’s credit report, checked Oct 29, 2026.

2. Who has to payFederal + state

Debts are paid from the estate, and if the estate can’t pay, the debt usually goes unpaid. You may be personally responsible only if you:

co-signed the loan
were a joint account holder on a card (an authorized user is different)
are a surviving spouse and state law requires spouses to pay that type of debt
are a surviving spouse in a community property state that requires jointly held property to pay a deceased spouse’s debts. The CFPB lists Alaska (with a special agreement), Arizona, California, Idaho, Louisiana, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, Washington and Wisconsin.

General rule and exceptions, including the list of community property states. Source: CFPB – Does a person’s debt go away when they die?, checked Oct 29, 2026.

3. Debt collectors: your rightsFederal law

Collectors may discuss the debt only with the spouse, a parent (if the deceased was a minor), a guardian, the executor or administrator, or someone else with authority to pay from the estate. They may contact other relatives only to find that person, and may not discuss the debt with them.
They may not say or imply you must pay from your own money, and may not harass you.
They must give validation information in the first call or in writing within 5 days. You can dispute the debt in writing within 30 days, and you can send a written request to stop contact. That stops the calls but doesn’t erase the debt.

Who collectors may talk to; validation information; contact limits. Source: FTC – Debts and deceased relatives, checked Oct 29, 2026.
Dispute within 30 days; written stop-contact letter. Source: FTC – Dealing with a deceased relative’s debt, checked Oct 29, 2026.

4. Creditor deadlines by stateState law

State	Notice and deadline	Law
New Hampshire	A creditor must exhibit (present) its claim to the administrator within 6 months after the original grant of administration, and generally must sue within 1 year after that grant. A notice by registered mail stating the claim and demanding payment counts as presenting it.	RSA 556:3; RSA 556:2; RSA 556:5
California	Creditors must file a claim by the later of 4 months after letters are first issued to a general personal representative, or 60 days after notice of administration is mailed or delivered to that creditor.	Cal. Prob. Code § 9100
Texas	Within 1 month after receiving letters, the personal representative must publish a notice to claimants in a local newspaper (and send it to the Comptroller if the decedent owed or should have paid state taxes it administers). Within 2 months, the representative must notify known secured creditors. The representative may also send unsecured creditors a notice that they must present claims before the 121st day after they receive it.	Tex. Estates Code § 308.051; Tex. Estates Code § 308.053; Tex. Estates Code § 308.054
Florida	The personal representative publishes a notice to creditors. Claims must be filed in the probate case by the later of 3 months after first publication or, for creditors who must be served, 30 days after service. Regardless, claims are generally barred 2 years after the death.	Fla. Stat. § 733.702; Fla. Stat. § 733.710
Ohio	Creditors must present claims in writing within 6 months after the death, whether or not an executor has been appointed. Late claims are generally barred forever. The executor must allow or reject claims within 30 days after they are presented.	Ohio Rev. Code § 2117.06(B)–(C); Ohio Rev. Code § 2117.06(D)

Checked Oct 29, 2026. These rules apply when there is a probate administration.

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