After someone dies, the last thing a grieving family wants is a call from a debt collector asking them to pay a loved one’s debt. The fact is that debt does not die when you do. Here’s what to know about the rules and your rights regarding a deceased relative’s debts.
Who’s responsible for a deceased person’s debts?
As a rule, a person’s debts do not go away when they die. Those debts are owed by and paid from the deceased person’s estate. By law, family members do not usually have to pay the debts of a deceased relative from their own money. If there isn’t enough money in the estate to cover the debt, it usually goes unpaid. But there are exceptions to this rule. You may be personally responsible for the debt if you:
- co-signed the obligation, like a car loan
- are the deceased person’s spouse and live in a community property state, such as California
- are the deceased person’s spouse, and live in a state that requires you to pay certain kinds of debt, like some healthcare expenses
- were legally responsible for resolving the estate and didn’t follow specific state probate laws
If you have questions about whether you’re legally required to pay a deceased person’s debts from your own money, talk to a lawyer. Depending on your income, you may qualify for free legal services from a legal aid organization near you.
Who can pay debts out of the deceased person’s assets?
The executor — the person named in a will to carry out what it says after death — is responsible for settling the deceased person’s debts.
If there’s no will, the court may appoint an administrator, personal representative, or universal successor and give them the power to settle the estate’s affairs. In some states, that power may be granted to someone else who was not appointed by the court. For example, state law may establish another process for someone to become the estate representative even if they haven’t been formally designated by the court.
Can a debt collector talk to a relative about a deceased person’s debt?
The law protects people — including family members — from debt collectors who use abusive, unfair, or deceptive practices to collect a debt.
Under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), collectors can contact and discuss outstanding debts with the deceased person’s
- spouse
- parent(s) — if the death was a minor child, which is generally under age 18
- guardian
- executor
- administrator
Collectors can also contact any other person with the power to pay debts with assets from the deceased person’s estate. Debt collectors may not discuss the debts of a dead person with anyone else.
If a debt collector contacts a deceased person’s relative or another person connected to the deceased, what can they talk about?
Collectors can contact other relatives or other people connected to the deceased. They can ask for the name, address, and telephone number of the dead person’s spouse, executor, administrator, or another person with the power to pay the deceased person’s debts. Collectors can usually only contact these relatives or other people one time to get this information, and they can’t discuss the details of the debt.
Collectors can reach out again for updated information or if the relative or other person gave the collector wrong or incomplete information. But, even then, collectors can’t discuss the debt.
If I have the power to pay a deceased person’s debt, can I stop a debt collector from contacting me about the debt?
Yes, the law says you can stop a collection company from contacting you. To do this, send a letter to the collector. A telephone call isn’t enough. Tell the collector you don’t want them to contact you again. Make a copy of the letter for your files, send the original by certified mail, and pay for a “return receipt” so you can document when the collector got the letter.
Once the collection company gets your letter, it can only contact you to
- confirm it will stop contacting you from them on, or
- tell you it plans to take a specific action, like filing a lawsuit.
But even if you stop collectors from communicating with you, the debt doesn’t go away. The collectors may still try to collect the debt from the estate or anyone who fits one of the categories listed above.
Our next post will discuss what happens with the different kinds of debt when a person dies.
Where can I learn more about debt collection and my rights?
Read these Debt Collection FAQs
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Larry Marvin
LifeCrafter Money $ebse
Sources
Debts and Deceased Relatives | FTC Consumer Information. https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/debts-and-deceased-relatives
