How to Remove a Deceased Husband's Debt From My Credit Report

You may be able to remove a deceased spouse's debt from your credit report.

Your credit report is a record of how you have managed your credit accounts. A deceased spouse's debt should not appear on your credit file unless you are a joint owner on the account. The Fair Credit Reporting Act allows you to dispute your deceased spouse's accounts, request an investigation and have his debt removed from your credit report.

Things You'll Need

• Pen
• Paper
• Postage
• Copy of ID

Instructions

1. 

   Verify the debt information.

   Verify that you are not a joint account holder on the debt in question. If you are a joint account holder, you cannot have the account removed from your credit report.

2. Write a letter to the credit reporting agency. Include the account information and state that the account is not your debt and belonged to your deceased spouse. Ask that his account be removed from you credit report immediately. Include a copy of your ID.

3. Allow the credit reporting agency 30 days to investigate your claim. The agency will initiate an investigation, and if the creditor fails to respond in 30 days or if the creditor responds that the account is not joint, the agency will remove the item in question.

4. Examine the credit report results that are returned to you. You should receive the updated credit report within 40 days of mailing your dispute.

Tips & Warnings

• If the accounts are positive, consider leaving them alone, as removing them may drop your credit score.

• It may take more than one letter to resolve the issue.

References

• Come Back Credit: Credit Dispute

Resources

• Credit Repair Info: Credit Disputes
• Credit Repair Info: Credit Reporting Agency Addresses