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When my father died Am I responsible for his debt?

Writer Sarah Duran

When a person dies, his or her estate is responsible for settling debts. The children are not responsible for the debts, unless a child co-signed a loan or credit card agreement. In that case, the child would be responsible for that loan or credit card debt, but nothing else.

Does your parents debt become yours when they die?

In most cases, an individual’s debt isn’t inherited by their spouse or family members. Instead, the deceased person’s estate will typically settle their outstanding debts. In other words, the assets they held at the time of their death will go toward paying off what they owed when they passed.

Who is responsible for a deceased father’s credit card debt?

Whether your deceased father used his credit cards sparingly or left behind a huge debt, you are no doubt wondering if you’re responsible for the payment. That is going to depend on whether he left assets behind and whose names were on the account.

Do you have to pay mother or father’s debt?

A son or daughter will have to pay the debt of their mother or father, for example, if the child co-signed on a loan or is a joint account holder on a credit card. In these situations, just because one party has died, does not mean that any portion of the underlying debt is extinguished. Children often want to keep the family home.

Do you inherit your parents’credit card debt?

Do you inherit your parents’ credit card debt? A: In most cases, children are not responsible for their parents’ debts after they pass away. However, if you are a joint account holder on any credit cards or loans, you would be liable for paying off the amounts due.

Who is responsible for credit card debt in a divorce?

The agreement you have with a card issuer is that you are required to pay that debt. So even if your spouse is supposed to help you pay down credit card debt in your name, if they don’t, you are still on the hook for it. The creditor will come after you.