What Happens to Authorized Users When the Primary Credit Card Holder Dies?

Being an authorized user on another person’s credit card can help you establish your credit history

Parents might add their children to help launch them into adulthood

Or spouses may an account, with one spouse as the authorized user

But if the primary cardholder passes away, the authorized user is left with a card in limbo

After my grandfather passed away earlier this year, my grandmother — a longtime authorized user on her husband’s cards — was left without any in her own name

What ed was a brief scramble to figure out whether she could qualify for a new card, given the credit history she’d established

In her case, she was able to qualify for several cards, but it was a mixed bag in terms of how issuers responded

One immediately offered the same card, under a new account in her name

Another asked her to reapply, rejected her, and then later apved her after another attempt at applying

If you’re an authorized user, having a plan in place in case the primary cardholder’s account is closed for any reason (including death, as difficult as that can be to talk ), is a smart move

Here’s what to expect if you’re ever in this situation

You won’t be responsible for any debtIf the primary cardholder was in credit card debt, don’t stress

You’re not on the hook for any of it

According to Drew Tsitos, manager of credit card ducts at Navy Federal Credit Union, the debt would be paid out of the deceased’s estate. “A true authorized user is simply authorized to use the account, but is not directly responsible for the health of the account or the payment. ”However, if you’re also a beneficiary of the estate, you can be affected

Any debts the estate must pay down will lower the sum of money you could receive

And in community perty states, spouses may be responsible for credit card debt incurred during their marriage, the Federal Trade Commission notes

You can find a full list of community perty states on the IRS

Stop using the card and call the issuerIf the deceased was your close relative, such as a spouse or parent, you might be the one taking on the task of settling their financial affairs

Notify the credit bureaus and the banks or credit unions they had cards with of their passing. (They might find out by other means, a notification from the Social Security Administration, but it’s worth speaking to them so you know how to ceed with account closures. )Check your credit reportsTsitos recommends checking your credit reports to see which reports show the card or cards on which you were an authorized user

He says that card issuers handle authorized users differently when it comes to reporting payment activity to bureaus

Once the issuer closes the deceased person’s card, you’ll see a closed account on your credit report

This could ding your credit scores temporarily, similar to what could happen if you were to close a credit card of your own. “You will see some variance,” Tsitos says. “That’s totally normal. ”Apply for a new credit cardIf you’d your own card account, the next step is to look for cards and apply

The application will ask for your financial information, and this can be tricky if you’re a nonworking spouse or you’re retired and don’t work for income

However, you can report income from investment dividends and interest, withdrawals from retirement accounts, Social Security, public assistance or even money you receive as support from someone else (say, financial help from another relative)

One place to start is the issuer of the card you were an authorized user on, since you’re somewhat “known” to that bank

You can also consider a secured credit card, which can be easier to qualify for if you have limited credit history

The ara RathnerSara is a NerdWallet travel and credit cards expert

She has appeared on the “Today” show, Nasdaq and CNBC’s “Nightly Report. ” See full bio.