system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
What Happens to Debt After You Die?

What's to stop someone from running up a whole bunch of debt before the kick the bucket? Is it really fair to put that on the spouse and/or kids?
gpt
Depends on what debt it is. Secured loans still are held against the asset. Most other debt is held against the estate. So if you die with 20k in credit card debt, the credit card company goes after what you own. 

If the liabilities are greater than the assets, the Credit card company takes a loss. Of course if you and your wife's name is on the card, the wife gets the whole debt. 

Student loan debt is discharged when you die.