1,600. Widows, Creditors and Movable Property

Hilchos Ishus 17:5

If a man dies, leaving behind a widow, a creditor, and land on which neither of them has a lien, the widow must defer to the creditor, who collects what he is owed first.

Hilchos Ishus 17:6

The Gaonim enacted that women and creditors can collect what they are owed from movable property, and there is no law of priority when it comes to movable property. Therefore, if the husband didn’t leave enough movable property to pay both debts, the creditor may collect the entirety of what is owed him first. If anything remains towards the wife’s kesubah, it is given to her. If nothing remains, she must defer to the creditor.