I’m not an estate lawyer (though I am an attorney in Texas), but ...
If there is no executor/will, I think creditors can drive the estate into probate court and have an executor forcibly assigned. Just because there is no will does not mean the family can bolt with money/assets without paying the debts from that money/assets. If someone has a $50K estate, $25K in debt, and no will ... the inheritance would be done through probate court, after the debts are paid.
SnakeDoc
Ahh.. that makes more sense.
My colleague’s mother, unfortunately when she passed, had nothing to pass one. That’s probably where I got my data turned around.
Thanks for the explanation. I appreciate it.
RS