DEAR BRUCE: My husband and I have been married fewer than three years. He has several credit card accounts that were obtained several years ago in his name. He has life insurance on these card balances whereby upon his death, accidental or otherwise, the balance is paid in full. Each month he continues to pay a percentage of the balance for the life insurance, and he continues using these cards for purchases. Will I be liable for any of his credit card debt if he should die? -- Reader, via e-mail
DEAR READER: If everything is as you have stated, brought down to its essence, if he dies, the account balances are paid. End of story. Whether this is an effective way to carry life insurance is quite another matter. The overwhelming likelihood is that if your husband is in good health, and a nonsmoker, he could buy a life insurance policy on his own that would cover upon his death for whatever face amount you select and the net cost would be a whole lot less than buying it through the credit card company. The direct answer to your question is, when he dies, under the current arrangement, the debts go away.