The whole student loan thing is a mess.
BY the way, if you pass away while owing a student loan - then that becomes a debt of the estate, not the heirs (although satisfaction of that loan will direct the estate proceeds to the debtor, rather than the heirs.) That is the general rule for any debt - if you own a house with a mortgage, the morgage doesn’t disappear if you die.
Generally, though, minor creditors like credit card companies tens to write off, rather than pursue, the loan in those cases.
https://www.thebalance.com/student-loans-after-death-4777625
Federal Student Loans
All federal student loans are dischargeable upon a borrower’s death, which is an important benefit of federal student loans.
Federal student loans are not passed on to anyone in your family or even your estate. If you die, your federal student debt is instead fully forgiven and is no longer owned or owed by anyone.
Actually student loan debt is completely discharged for people who die. The loan obligations are not passed to any heirs.
My wife died and her loans were discharged. Of course, didn’t stop them from garnishing our last joint tax refund. Took 3 years to get Navient to return the money.
Navient / Sallie Mae is scum.
Not true—if a federal student loan borrower dies, the loan is discharged. And if the borrower is a parent for their student child, the loan is discharged if either the parent borrower or the student dies.
No.
Federally backed student loans are discharged at moment of death, completely.
Some private SL lenders will do the same, they usually do.
If the SL loan has a co-signor that may be different.
https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/loans/student-loans/your-student-debt-doesnt-always-die-with-you