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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Chaparral Pro",serif">Hello all,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Chaparral Pro",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Chaparral Pro",serif">I have a client whose wife passed away after a long marriage. When she died, husband discovered that wife had run up significant debt on three credit cards, likely to pay for her gambling
habit. All of the credit card companies issued two cards, one in the name of each spouse. The husband can’t recall opening the accounts, but they go as far back as the 80s. He has not used the cards in recent memory. The couple also own real property that
has a significant mortgage.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Chaparral Pro",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Chaparral Pro",serif">The couple had a community property agreement in place so there is generally no need to open probate.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Chaparral Pro",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Chaparral Pro",serif">I have two questions:
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Chaparral Pro",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<ol style="margin-top:0in" start="1" type="1">
<li class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:0in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><span style="font-family:"Chaparral Pro",serif">What is the best way of dealing with the non-community debt accrued by wife on the credit cards, given that the cards were also issued
in husband’s name? Do we simply tell the credit card companies that we are cancelling the accounts and that the debt is non-community debt of the deceased spouse, and then wait for two years? Or is this more complicated because husband’s name is on the accounts/cards,
too? The interest being charged is 25%, so I want to make they can’t look to husband as co-debtor.<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:0in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><span style="font-family:"Chaparral Pro",serif">Even if we can eliminate the credit card debt, the existing mortgage is too much for husband to carry on his own. Would you recommend
calling the lender to try to negotiate new loan terms, or is filing bankruptcy first a better option? If so, please send me any referrals!<o:p></o:p></span></li></ol>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Chaparral Pro",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Chaparral Pro",serif">Thank you!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Chaparral Pro",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Chaparral Pro",serif">Natalie<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Chaparral Pro",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Chaparral Pro",serif;color:#060A2E">Natalie N. Kuehler</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:#060A2E"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:"Chaparral Pro",serif;color:#060A2E">KUEHLER & GRIM PLLC</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:#060A2E"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Chaparral Pro",serif;color:#060A2E">PO Box 3059 – 1112 State Route 20</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:#060A2E"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Chaparral Pro",serif;color:#060A2E">Winthrop, WA 98862</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:#060A2E"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Chaparral Pro",serif;color:#060A2E">o: (509) 996-2832 x1 – c (509) 557-5769</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:#060A2E"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Chaparral Pro",serif;color:#060A2E"><a href="http://www.kuehlergrim.com"><span style="color:#060A2E">www.kuehlergrim.com</span></a></span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:#060A2E"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Chaparral Pro",serif;color:#060A2E"> </span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:#060A2E"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Chaparral Pro",serif;color:#060A2E">CONFIDENTIALITY STATEMENT: This message contains information that may be confidential and protected by the attorney-client privilege. If you received this message
in error, please notify the sender immediately and delete the message.</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:#060A2E"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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