Can those bills then be put on your credit record from the deceased family member? Can the family lose what they have due to what the relative left behind? What if they don't have the money to pay it back? I know if it's your husband or wife then your automatically responsible, but if it's one of your parents what happens?
2007-01-19 23:46:49 · 9 answers · asked by JBWPLGCSE 5 in Business & Finance ➔ Credit
It is the legal duty of the executor of the will to ensure that bills are paid from the estate of the deceased. If any creditors can prove there was enough money to do so,but you didn't pay,then you would be in trouble. If there just wasn't enough money left to cover any unpaid bills,well,that's the end of it. The only way you would be required to pay was if you were a joint card holder.
2007-01-20 00:01:06 · answer #1 · answered by New Boots. 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No. Only someone listed on an account is responsible for an account.
You have made some bad assumptions. I don't know how to say this nicely, but your comments about a person being responsible for a debt of the spouse is completly wrong. Not even close to correct. I think you need to seek some expert advice.
I think that technically the estate of a decesed person is responsible for paying the bills, but if the decesed has no money then there is no money to pay. Send all creditors a copy of the decesed death certificate. They will probably just close the account and write it off.
2007-01-20 00:01:18 · answer #2 · answered by Gatsby216 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I believe it's the case that the estate left is liable to be forced to pay off any bills (not including life insurance) but beyond what is left by the deceased, the children are not responsible. I had a friend who's mother died, she had no money to leave except a life insurance policy. A credit card company tried to get my friend to pay off a fairly large bill, but they couldn't force it. Life insurance does not count as a part of the estate. Creditors can certainly ask that bills be paid off when there is no estate but they can't legally force the issue.
2007-01-20 00:56:19 · answer #3 · answered by The Scorpion 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In Australia it depends on whose name the bills are in.
If one parent dies and the other is still living and the bills (credit card, etc) are only in the name of the deceased then no, the living partner is NOT liable. How-ever, if the bill is in BOTH names, then yes they are responsible for the bill.
The child/children of the parent are NOT responsible for any outstanding bill EXCEPT where the child was guarantor for the loan/credit card or collateral was used in which case either the bill is paid in full, or the whatever was used as collateral is sold to pay off the remaining debt.
2007-01-20 00:03:00 · answer #4 · answered by Brighteyz 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If the credit card holder is the only one on the account, the creditor can go after the estate to pay the bills but if the estate doesn't cover the bills, they can't go after other family members.
2007-01-20 00:07:17 · answer #5 · answered by sdc_99 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That happened when my dad died. They tried to pressure me to pay it but since he had no estate and no money to be left to his family, i did not pay. I told them to put it his credit report! They called a few more times but they got the point
2007-01-20 05:21:44 · answer #6 · answered by tall_slimm 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They can take anything of value he or she left behind like homes, vehicles, or anything of value to pay them off. If they left money in the bank they can take it from the paper trail even if you were to withdraw it and spend it. They can find out who took the money and if it were you, they can make you responsible for the debt. Unfortunately it sometimes helps to get a lawyer to help in these cases because there are certain things they can't touch but they can lie like a dog to you on the phone to get you to pay. Check for any life insurance policies or if necessary, sell a vehicle to help pay them off. Bush allowed the credit card companies with the power of government nearly to collect money.
2007-01-19 23:55:32 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
they become a debtor like any other people she owes money to. If you could get out of debt by dying, I'd borrow 10 million bucks spend it give it to my family then I'd die. It ain't that simple sorry. All debtors go on a list to be paid by the will. Remember she owns half the family home too. They will come after that believe me.
2007-01-20 00:38:37 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
I doubt it. They might have cause if you comingle your money with theirs. Joint savings account and such.
2007-01-19 23:57:35 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋