When m om died, my brother and I took care of everything equally. Do we owe her bills?
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When m om died, my brother and I took care of everything equally. Do we owe her bills?
My Mom died late Dec.,2016 and she had enough funds to pay for her final burial arrangements. She left my brother and I a small life ins. policy each. Both policies were 5,000 each. My Mom has one credit card with a balance. I received a letter the other day from the credit card company wanting to know who was in charge of my Mom’s estate. Do my brother and I owe this charge card co. now. We are not on this account.
Asked on February 23, 2017 under Estate Planning, Florida
Answers:
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 7 years ago | Contributor
No, you do not owe it personally: it was her bill, not yours. Her "estate" does owe it, which means that it should be paid from any money, etc. she had left at the end (after paying her final expenses), but if there is no money, the credit card company is out of luck. The liefe insurance is not vulnerable if it was left to you and your brother by name, since in that case, it goes to you directly, *outside* the estate and is never part of her funds.
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