I have an uncle that passed away about 1 month ago. He had about $3,000 of various credit card debt.

I have been getting conflicting advice. My uncle died with some money, but not a ton. I would like to know what obligation his estate has to repay the money and wether the credit card company can come after us for our inheritance.

Credit card companies will simply transfer the matter to a collections company. I would just call to negotiate a settlement. Chances are for such a small abount they will take a fractional settlement, espectially if there is no probate estate or if there were few assets at death. Dont forget that the credit card company is an unsecured creditor.

Option #2: Check the local probate statutes. For states that follow the Uniform Probate Code, once the Personal Representative publishes notice of death, creditors have a limited amount of time to come forward to make a claim against an estate. If they dont come forward within the statutory permitted time, they they will be barred from making a claim. So, if you are working on a settlement with the credit card company and if they do not make a claim after notice of death is published, then they may be precluded from making a claim.

Even though credit card debt is unsecured, the credit card companies sell the debt to law firms and the law firms muscle debtors into paying something. I recommend working out a settlement before a law firm comes after you.