How to Avoid a Credit-Card Surprise When a Spouse Dies
After her husband’s death, an elderly widow received a jarring surprise—the credit card she had been using was shut down. Her husband had been the primary account holder. The distraught widow had cash in a bank account, but without a credit history or income of her own, it would take time for her to build her credit record to the point where she could be approved for her own credit card.
(snip)
The problem, Ms. Altfest and others say, is that consumers often don’t understand the differences between having a joint credit-card account—one in which both parties have charging privileges and are equally responsible for the debt—and an account issued to a primary cardholder, who designates additional authorized users. In the latter case, both parties have charging privileges, but the primary cardholder is generally solely liable for the card’s debt.
Joint credit cards are often used by couples to handle household expenses. But when one spouse doesn’t have a strong credit history—for example, because he or she is a stay-at-home parent—the card is typically issued to a primary cardholder who can then name additional authorized users. Having more users can build up whatever rewards points a card might offer.
(snip)
It is easy to remove an authorized user from an account with a request either from the primary account holder or from the authorized user. For one of the parties in a joint account to be removed, by contrast, both parties must agree to release that person from liability. The bank will then check the credit of the remaining card user to be sure he or she is worthy of the credit line.
As happened with Ms. Altfest’s client, revelations may be in store when a couple is divorced or when a primary cardholder dies. If a card represents a joint account, the second user can typically go on using the card, but he or she will also be responsible for any debt. If a husband dies owing $50,000 on a joint credit card, his wife on that account is liable for that debt. But authorized users may find their card canceled because of the primary cardholder’s death. They can then apply for their own credit line, but they might find that their credit history isn’t sufficient to win approval.
More..
https://www.wsj.com/articles/how-to-avoid-a-credit-card-surprise-when-a-spouse-dies-11614952801 (subscription)
===
I'd better start checking our credit cards..
= new reply since forum marked as read
My wife had been the primary card holder and I also had use of the card. When she passed away I called and explained why the payment for the last statement was late (it was due within days of her passing and she handled ALL of the money matters!) - they said not to worry but to also send a copy of the death certificate.
No problem - paid the balance of the last statement and sent the copy of the certificate.
However, since the last billing period had passed and I had made another purchase prior to their notification, there was a NEW outstanding balance of something like $33.00.
A few days after the funeral I received a phone call asking to speak with the 'executor' of 'the estate' - wishing to have the 'balance' of the account sent to close out the billing.
I explained that I was the husband and whatever the 'balance' was would be covered when I received the next month's bill.
I was told that there were not going to be any more 'bills' - they needed the balance paid now.
Again, I said "send the statement, I will send the balance."
And again, I was told that there would be no 'statement' - they needed the balance paid NOW.
At this point I was QUITE angry and told them "SEND IT - I'LL PAY IT!" and hung up.
Mind you - this was within a week of my wife's passing.......
After a minute I picked up the phone and called the last number.
Imagine the shock when the answer came from a "COLLECTION AGENCY!"
After having an account with this store and using their card for over 10 years, with an average 'bill' of $1500 per month, paid in full each month - this store (I'm not going to name the store, but you could perhaps think of red circles like you might see at a shooting range) had turned my balance of $33 over to a collection agency! 
I would encourage anybody using credit cards to carefully re-read the original post - there's much to be learned there! 
I thought the same thing!
And thank you for the post - information that ALL should know! 
