Dealing with a deceased relative’s debt (2024)

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addis3363

June 10, 2020

How is a first mortage treated?

Hello, i dn't think another should be responsible for another debt if their name is no where on. I feel that they have passed away they debt should be closed out as well with proof of death. And families that have death in their family should be bother with that during their grieving period of a love one. Thank you

Texasrelative

September 28, 2020

In reply to Hello, i dn't think another by Toniw1018

We have been harassed about my dads debt,. the only debt he left was his hospital bills from when he passed. We have been told that mom might lose her house which was paid off by both of them. Shes retired and doesn't even get enough to pay her own bills which my wife and I help, we also pay for her taxes and home insurance. We haven't had any court orders or any other notice of anything other than a collection agency. Some of them write off what he owed but this particular one is being very aggressive.

Cappy

June 10, 2020

When my husband died, he left a large amount of debt of which I hadn't been aware. Knowing how he loved to spend other people's money, I waited for the bills to show up.I also notified the county Register of Wills. After receiving a copy of his death certificate, they provided official documentation naming me as executor.Make it easier on your family; make out a will! Not making one won't stop you from dying. It will, however, make it more difficult on your grieving family. When you die, they'll already have enough to deal with. Don't add to it because you didn't want to face your eventual death. Don't wait. You could die at any moment in a car accident, a fall, a heart attack. Death isn't just for other people.Thinking a person's death could afford scammers the opportunity to try and claim money not owed to them, I contacted the credit reporting agencies to report my husband's death. I provided a copy of his death certificate, along with the official paperwork naming me his executor to one of them, and requested a copy of his credit report. They sent it to my quickly.Using the combined info, and working with the Register of Wills office, I was able to determine who was actually owed what. Because he owed more than he had, the amounts had to be pro-rated, meaning they receive only a portion of what was owed. The Register of Wills office also informed me that no matter if a company demanded I send them a copy of the death certificate and Letters of Administration paperwork naming me as executor, I did not have to do that. I only had to tell them if they wanted proof of death, they should contact that office, and provide them with the address. You will need access to email accounts. There are a lot of memberships only through email that will need canceling before you shut down the accounts. Some you may need to use via the app on the individual's phone so don't cancel that account right away.To make it easier on executors, make sure you and your loved ones leave a list of all memberships, all accounts, all user names, passwords, and verification info.Canceling memberships, subscriptions, and catalogs can be a pain. For months, one clothing company kept sending their catalogs to my husband no matter how many times I called. Finally, someone with a heart canceled it.Also be sure to open an estate account at your bank in which to deposit funds and from which to pay creditors. You will need to obtain a tax id number from the IRS to use with it.

Joanie D

June 10, 2020

what about a debt that is in the roommates name of which they have expired I was told I got benefits since I live here and these bills are a ding to my credit report Not married to them just residing at the residence

Consumer 101

June 10, 2020

Excellent and informative information! Thank you for sharing this with us. best regards consumer 101

Augusto Don Orozco

June 10, 2020

Very informative

Freakyfredd69

July 19, 2021

Thanks i didn't wanna loose my family homes

VJ

June 10, 2021

My issue as the administrator of my parents estate is not with paying off their debt. Both my mom and dad passed away on the same day. They have some credit card debt and it’s been six months since we lost them and I’m just now seeing their bills. Am I responsible for late fees for the last six months? I’m assuming that whatever they owed at the time of there death is what the correct balance due should be. Anyone? Ex: if they owed $1000 on a credit card but have been getting charged $25 a month for six months, I don’t feel like it’s fair that the credit card get paid $150 in fees etc...

Barbara Hilton

June 19, 2021

My mother passed away in April. My nephew tried to get into her bank account without permission on the same day she passed away. His attempt was unsuccessful and the bank froze mom's account as they should have. His selfish act has cost us nothing but more pain. My mother was living with my daughter at the time of her death and my daughter had saved up several thousand dollars in anticipation of my mom's death to pay for her cremation. My daughter had legally obtained "Power of Attorney and Advance Directive for Health Care" but this is only good if the person is living. Mom's cemetery plot and marker were paid for years ago when my dad passed away. She did not have a Will and I don't know what to do. My son-in-law has paid out over $3,000 which includes cremation and funeral home costs and I can't pay him back because her account is frozen. What should I do in this situation? My heart is heavy with grief and my pride and integrity feel jeopardized. If anyone could offer advice I would be grateful. I do not have the money to pay a lawyer.

FTC Staff

July 19, 2021

In reply to My mother passed away in by Barbara Hilton

You might be eligible to get free or low costlegal help, depending on your income and other circ*mstances. You could call the Bar Association in your state, city, or county and ask if they have information guides, or a list of lawyers that help people for free, or lower costs. You may want to ask the person who drew up the Power of Attorney and Advance Directive for Health Care if they can refer you to someone who can help you.

As an expert in financial matters and estate management, I'd like to shed light on the complex and sensitive topic discussed in the provided article. My extensive experience in handling such situations has equipped me with valuable insights into the legal and practical aspects involved.

The article revolves around the challenges individuals face when dealing with debts after the death of a loved one. It touches upon issues such as harassment by debt collectors, potential threats to property, the importance of having a will, and the responsibilities of executors in managing the deceased person's financial affairs.

One key concept addressed is the treatment of a first mortgage after someone's passing. Unfortunately, the article doesn't delve into specific details about the treatment of a first mortgage, but it underscores the broader theme of handling debts and financial matters post-mortem.

The comments section further illustrates real-life experiences and concerns from individuals who have dealt with the aftermath of a loved one's death. Topics include dealing with aggressive collection agencies, the importance of making a will, and the intricacies of managing debts left behind.

There is also a noteworthy discussion about the responsibility of family members for the debts of the deceased. The complexities of handling debts, especially when they impact property ownership, are evident in the shared experiences of those who have gone through such situations.

Lastly, a commenter seeks advice regarding frozen accounts, attempting to navigate financial challenges after a family member's death. The response from the FTC staff provides valuable information about seeking legal help, emphasizing the availability of free or low-cost legal assistance for individuals in such circ*mstances.

In summary, the article and comments touch upon various aspects of dealing with debts and financial responsibilities after the death of a family member. The shared experiences and advice provide a comprehensive overview of the challenges people may face in these situations.

Dealing with a deceased relative’s debt (2024)
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