my father passed away and he has alot of credit card debt. He got a divorce 2 months before he died. Am I supposed to contact these companies?
2007-09-04 11:19:12 · 6 answers · asked by lynn 3 in Business & Finance ➔ Credit
Lynn, no do not contact them. Your dad's debts are now apart of any estate he has left. The creditors will have to file a personal judgement lien, against his estate. Best not to give them a heads up. The debt most likely will follow your dad's X wife. Divorce or not.
I am sorry for your loss.
2007-09-04 12:28:10 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The debts should be paid by his estate. Did he have a will? The named executor should arrange for probate. If you're the executor, contact an attorney to deal with all the legal aspects.
If his estate has no assets, you should write a letter indicating that your father passed away and there are not assets to pay the debt. Include a photocopy of a death certificate (don't send expensive certified copies -- they cost about $10 each).
It may take a couple months before the credit card companies stop sending bills. A few might try to convince you that you have to pay but that's not true. You may even have to send the letter and death certificate a couple times.
2007-09-04 11:34:35 · answer #2 · answered by bdancer222 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
if he owned anything, like a house, then you should at least contact an attorney and ask them to review your dad's will to see who the house goes to, when, etc. or to see if his ex was on the house and still on his savings account and retirement, etc. And while you're talking with that attorney you can ask them about the credit card debts, about his insurance policies, about what SS will pay in death benefits, ask if anything special if he was a vet, and ask about any retirement savings (like maybe a Roth) that he was paying into and whose name is on those. There should be some way around paying his debts (like putting something in the classified section of your newspaper saying you (specifically) will not be responsible for his debts.(and list his name). The newspaper will help you write it up. I think you do have to pay for his burial expenses if he didn't allow for that though (maybe SS can help; I think they pay a tiny amount. Seems weird that he died within two months of a divorce though.
You can contact those credit card companies "by letter" and send them a copy of the obit. You don't have to say you are a relative, just that he died, and here's his account number. If you say you are a relative they "might" try to get you to pay for it. So just see if they respond and what they do and say.
PS..sorry to hear about your dad.
2007-09-04 11:39:52 · answer #3 · answered by sophieb 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
you could try mailing a copy of the death certificate to each company.All credit card debts should have been looked at in this manner. The wife was responsible for one half the debt, until the divorce was final, and she has to pay her portion, even after your father died.
2007-09-04 11:33:25 · answer #4 · answered by hiba 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
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2007-09-05 05:57:58 · answer #5 · answered by chung s 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You should send them certified copies of the death certificate. These are usually available for a nominal fee from the funeral home. If not, they can tell you where to get them. If he left any sort of estate, including a house or car, they may be able to get a lien against the estate but not against you, personally.
2007-09-04 11:33:57 · answer #6 · answered by Cheryl G 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋