Do I have to pay all medical bills of my deceased mother-in-law?
Get Legal Help Today
Compare Quotes From Top Companies and Save
Secured with SHA-256 Encryption
Do I have to pay all medical bills of my deceased mother-in-law?
She passed away and her house is joint tenancy with my husband. She has outstanding medical bills more than $20,000 but I paid off credit card bill and all phone bill. However I heard that I’m not responsible for my mother’s bills unless co-signed or guaranteed them. Is that true, even if the house is jointly owned?
Asked on August 24, 2012 under Estate Planning, Hawaii
Answers:
MD, Member, California Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 12 years ago | Contributor
Correct. You are not responsible for your mother in law's bills. Further, in a joint tenancy, upon the death of one joint tenant, your husband automatically gets the house. Now,if it is subject to a mortgage loan, the issue will be if your husband is also on the loan or if your husband will decide whether to refinance in your name and his. Either way, once he has it, he should quit claim it into both of your names.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: The Answer(s) provided above are for general information only. The attorney providing the answer was not serving as the attorney for the person submitting the question or in any attorney-client relationship with such person. Laws may vary from state to state, and sometimes change. Tiny variations in the facts, or a fact not set forth in a question, often can change a legal outcome or an attorney's conclusion. Although AttorneyPages.com has verified the attorney was admitted to practice law in at least one jurisdiction, he or she may not be authorized to practice law in the jurisdiction referred to in the question, nor is he or she necessarily experienced in the area of the law involved. Unlike the information in the Answer(s) above, upon which you should NOT rely, for personal advice you can rely upon we suggest you retain an attorney to represent you.