Is a wife responible for a credit card debt if her husband dies?

The husbands estate is responsible, but not the wife directly. The amount of the husbands debt will be subtracted from his assets after his death. His wife will usually inherit what is left, unless the husband left other instructions in his will (ie leave everything to charity). If the husband dies and his debt is larger than his assets, then the creditors usually lose the difference. This is all handled through probate court, and a judge can choose who gets what.