I just received a certified letter from a heating contractor who installed a new water heater in my late father-in-laws home shortly before he died. My father-in-law passed away in 10/04. He had no estate or will. My husband settled the estate sometime in 2006. The only asset was a mobile which we sold and applied to funeral costs and lot rent and utilities. We had been in contact with heating contractor from the beginning and told him that we would try to pay the bill after the trailer was sold. There was no money left and the estate was closed without payment to him. The total bill was $2000.00 and $1000.00 was paid by credit card company. My father in law had charged the intial deposit before his death.
2007-01-27 06:58:11 · 6 answers · asked by jmom 2 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
How would you be responsible? At best, your husband, who wrapped up his father's estate, might be liable as the administrator of the estate to the extent there were assets in the estate. Funeral expenses usually have priority and the expenses of administration next, so if there was money left and you spent it on other debts, there might be liability to the extent of such payments.
Many states require a separate procedure for bankrupt estates, in part to make sure the families don't benefit as heirs at the expense of creditors. You will need to consult an estate lawyer in the state where your father-in-law died.
2007-01-27 07:08:24 · answer #1 · answered by thylawyer 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
You should have never told the contractor that you would try to pay the bill. You should have just written "deceased" on a copy of your father's bill and returned it to the company. I'm not sure what the laws are in your area regarding this, but typically you are not responsible for the debts of others unless you agree to pay them which you basically did.
2007-01-27 07:17:55 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, your husband is not personally responsible, but as the executor in fact of the estate he should write them and tell them there were no assets to pay their bill, and nothing left in the estate.
2007-01-27 07:04:39 · answer #3 · answered by oklatom 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the wife is not neither is anyone else, however, the deceased's estate is responsible. If the Deceased had 100k but owed out 50k the rightful heirs would only get 50k.
2016-03-29 05:14:25 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You are not responsible for that bill.
2007-01-27 07:04:00 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No. Not at all. DO NOT MAKE ANY PAYMENTS.
2007-01-27 07:05:51 · answer #6 · answered by da_hammerhead 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋