What happens to debt when someone dies?

Whether or not there’s a will, the results are the same.

By: James Malm, College of Charleston, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: June 1, 2026

Words: 1,189

Last Updated: 1 month, 3 weeks ago

By James Malm, College of Charleston

Curious Kids is a series for children of all ages. If you have a question you’d like an expert to answer, send it to CuriousKidsUS@theconversation.com.

What happens to debt when someone dies? – Lucy, age 17, Cincinnati, Ohio

Imagine everyone has a large piggy bank that represents everything they own. Inside it are items such as cash in a bank account, a home, a car, …

Create a free account to access this story and more

Join Plucky Wire to access full stories, collaborate with newsrooms, and discover content from networks around the world.