Sadly, the poverty rate among seniors is rising, prompting the question of whether or not it is possible to inherit debt. In general, when a loved one passes, his or her debts fall to the estate to be paid. However, in situations where debt is shared -- for example, jointly owned credit cards or shared student loans -- the debt can pass to the account co-owner, even if he or she was unaware of the debt. This is why it is important to consider debt planning as part of your ov