What happens to secondary cards and account when primary cardholder dies??
 

My apologies if this seems like a foolish question - and I did do a search for related threads to no avail - so here goes: What happens when the primary cardholder dies? Does Amex automatically get notified via the credit reporting bureaus? Are they automatically notified from some death certificate/SS # reporting? And what happens to the secondary cardholders accounts if there are outstanding balances? I would appreciate any input on this - especially from the experts like Kagehitokiri and MIA ;). Thanks.

;) top secret methods are used to determine when someone dies so I can not disclose but it involves the credit bureau as a conduit. The account is closed including the secondary. Depending on what information was given and signed the secondary can be held responsible for charges. I believe there was a famous new york case that involved a famous character, sado masochism, death, charges made after the death for gold items turned to cash with an amex.

"Top Secret" such as the use of the Social Security Death Index?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_...ty_Death_Index

Normally, if the deceased has a will, the executor will thus become the person responsible for probate of the will and payment of bills due to creditors who can establish a claim with the estate.

If there is no will, then the card company is pretty much SOL unless they can get the court to appoint an court-appointed administrator of said estate to disburse funds to the card company provided the company can prove the debt by said deceased person.

Sanosuke!