If someone dies without a will, unless it is contested by, say, a child from a previous marriage, everything normally goes to the wife or husband regardless of whose name things are in (unless they're in a third party's name, in which case you'll need a lawyer to sort it out). The title should transfer to you too, though that would need to be done by the bank or whoever holds the loan/mtge, and a new version of it given to you. Millions of people die all the time with unpaid mtge's (and little or no insce), and their heirs still inherit, but if you then cannot continue paying, then you'd either sell the house, forfeit it to the bank, or ... and this is the part you should know about (should have been told when the papers were first drawn up) keep the house under the terms of the "Mortgage Insurance" which is offered to all buyers for just such events. IF your husband did not buy that insce., it may not be too late to do so, and I'd speak to the bank about getting it in place.

Thank you Lucy.That is helpful knowledge for me..

You're only 50, have you thought about taking classes and getting a job now, before something happens to your DH?

Other things being equal, many of us prefer to get life, and possibly also disability insurance, related to paying a mortgage off on our own as a separate contract.

The mortgage insurance's beneficiary is the bank, not the mortgage holder, who, though paying the premium, has no flexibility in case of need.

The amount of coverage decreases over the years, as it covers only the portion of the mortgage remaining unpaid, while usually for a similar cost (sometimes lower), a mortgagee can get regular term life insurance for the full amount originally owing on the mortgage ... and it usually stays at that level throughout, if they so choose. Premium rate may increase at the end of the agreed term, if it is shorter than the years that the mortgage is to run.

If premium rates are comparable, if the mortgagee dies the amount of benefit making up the difference between the original amount owing and the amount remaining owing at the time (which they would likely pay to the bank to retire the mortgage) would be really helpful to the survivors.

It's wise to carry disability insurance, as well, as there's a far greater possibility of long-term disability (about 4 times) than of death during one's years of employment ... lacking employment income, how does one pay mortgage should s/he become disabled?

Lacking a will ... no problem ... as long as the owner of the family's assets ... remains alive.

Suppose someone were to come to your house tomorrow and, reading from a clipboard, ask you what your family owns, then say that this and that was to be done with each of the various pArts of it.

As you listened, you'd likely object strongly, sputteringly saying, "But ... but ... we don't want our things and money to be dealt with that way!!".

That person would just be telling you what your state's rules are, that would come into effect ...

... if the owner of the assets dies without a will!!

So - get the will in place ... before you die.

Can't do it after!!

ole joyful

P.S. Confession time. I'm close to 80 ... and I don't got one, either.

Stupid.

My kids'd get the stuff ... but they'd get a lot less, after all of those admin. costs.

And they'd get the stuff later.

And the charities'd get ... nothing!

o j

Is there any reason that your husband cannot have your name added to the deed? It's a simple procedure in most states.

But do get a will in place ASAP. A simple will shouldn't cost much at all.