Hi,

I feel like I should know the answer to this but I would love to know for sure. And hopefully this is an ok forum to ask. But when you die do student loans die with you or does that debt go to your spouse/ domestic partner, kin, etc? As law school debt continues to pile on these questions and doubts about what happens if something happens to me have been stressing me out so any information on this or information on who to ask about this would be greatly appreciated.

-Milo

Federal student loans die with us, thank goodness.  Your estate will not have to pay back your student loans.

If both parents borrow a PLUS loan together, both have to die to kill the loan.  If one lives, he or she is on the hook.  If the child they borrowed for dies, the PLUS loan is discharged.

Not so for those pesky private loans.  Be thankful for GradPLUS!  Before 2006, we had to borrow a lot more private loans, which are handled just like other loan debt, and are part of the dead person’s estate, although some lenders will consider discharge in certain circumstances.

For more on disability and death discharges see:
http://www.studentloanborrowerassistance.org/loan-cancellation/disability-and-death/

The National Consumer Law Center ROCKS!!

Thank you so much for your quick (and helpful) response. What a relief. Thank you!