who has to pay a credit card bill after a person dies?

It depends on several factors.  A credit card agreement is a contract, so the terms of the agreement need to be reviewed.  Additionally, one needs to consider if there was more than one person listed on the card, such as a spouse of child who may be forced to assume the debt. Typically, a credit card company will have a claim against the estate of the deceased (assuming no one else is on the card). You should speak with a local consumer rights attorney.  There are various statutes that may protect you or your family if you are liable on the debt, and a local consumer rights attorney will be able to determine if any state specific statutes apply to your situation, or if you are liable on the debt. This is not intended to be legal advice, and is general in its nature. No attorney-client relationship exists or is formed by this information. Furthermore, this does not represent the views or opinions of LexisNexis or its affiliated companies.