thank you all for your answers. 1/2 of the estate is going to his children from his first marriage. I have assummed the mortgage balance on the property along with the property. But the equity line still has a balance on it with the property as the secured asset. the HELOC was run up with personal items purchased by deceased spouse during the marriage. So I guess bottom line that I was wondering about was does the HELOC go with the property, or is it a community debt to which both spouse's estates owe 1/2. thank you so much!!!