When one dies shouldn’t the outstanding bills be paid off, before any of the relatives grab a lamp shade?
I’m not an attorney, but I think legitimate bills should be submitted to the estate within a certain time limit. If that’s not done, creditors have no legal right to dun the heirs.
Sure it makes sense. All that remains is the moral obligation to repay what was borrowed. The law does not set our morals. Can you imagine Ted Kennedy, Barney Frank, John Conyers or Obama telling us what is moral?
Most people never have a probate estate when they die. If property is held jointly, it simply passes to the survivor by operation of law. These collection agencies are calling the spouse, children, and other close relatives of the deceased demanding payment even if the deceased left no estate. I have first hand knowledge of this happening.
Yeah, the estate is supposed to pay off all outstantding bills before the heirs get their cut. IIRC when I settled my mother’s estate, I had to put an announcement in a local paper and anyone with any previously unknown claims had a certain amount of time (I cant remember how long it was) to make them.