The Short Answer

Usually, no: if you did not sign the promissory note (and did not otherwise agree to be responsible), you generally are not personally liable for your late spouse’s disaster recovery loan. However, the lender may still have a valid claim against your spouse’s estate, and in some situations a creditor may pursue property or accounts depending on how they were titled and whether there was any co-obligation or security interest.

What Pennsylvania Law Says

In Pennsylvania, a deceased person’s debts are typically handled through the estate administration process. Creditors generally must pursue payment from estate assets through the personal representative (executor/administrator), rather than automatically shifting the debt to the surviving spouse just because of the marriage.

The Statute

The primary law governing how creditor claims are handled in a Pennsylvania estate is 20 Pa.C.S. § 3384.

This statute addresses how a creditor gives notice of a claim to the estate’s personal representative and explains that timely written notice (or certain equivalent actions) can preserve/toll the creditor’s claim while the estate is being administered.

Separately, Pennsylvania law also recognizes that marriage alone does not automatically make one spouse responsible for the other spouse’s separate debts. For example, 23 Pa.C.S. § 4101 states a spouse is not liable for the other spouse’s debts contracted before marriage (though it does not protect a person’s own property from debts they personally contracted or authorized).

Why You Should Speak with an Attorney

Even if you never signed the note, disaster recovery loans can raise issues that are easy to miss—especially when a lender starts sending letters or making calls after a death. Legal outcomes often depend on:

• Strict Deadlines: Creditor rights can turn on timing and notice. Pennsylvania has specific rules about preserving claims against an estate, including written notice and other actions that can toll limitations under 20 Pa.C.S. § 3384, and related timing provisions such as 20 Pa.C.S. § 3383.
• Burden of Proof: If a creditor claims you are responsible, the details matter—whether there was a co-signer, a guaranty, a later modification you signed, or a lien/security interest tied to specific property.
• Exceptions and “non-probate” assets: Whether a creditor can reach particular assets may depend on how accounts and real estate were titled, and whether the loan was secured. For more background, see How Do Creditor Claims Work in a Pennsylvania Estate (and How Are They Paid)? and What Happens to Joint Bank Accounts and Credit Card Debt After a Spouse Dies in Pennsylvania?.

Trying to handle this alone can lead to costly mistakes—like accidentally acknowledging a debt as yours, mishandling estate communications, or overlooking how a creditor can enforce a secured loan.

Get Connected with a Pennsylvania Attorney

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Disclaimer: This article provides general information under Pennsylvania law and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Laws change frequently. For legal advice specific to your situation, please consult with a licensed attorney.