Who is responsible for your cards once you die?

**mrsjprice** · April 16th, 2008, 11:30 AM

I suppose if you don't legally have to pay the debts. I suppose the only thing they can do is to try and scare you into it, as other wise they are not going to get there money back. I think this is pretty harsh seeing as the issue is related to a person who's passed away.

**alpha** · April 16th, 2008, 10:52 PM

I think you're right that sometimes creditors may try to pressure people into paying bills they're not legally obligated to pay. But if the person who died had any money or real estate, the creditors can try to get their money from that.

**princee18** · May 6th, 2008, 06:45 AM

yes the creditors try to force the family members to get back their money and its true that in some cases they manage to Get their money back.

**hjm331** · May 10th, 2008, 01:50 AM

I wouldn't pay them a penny back if I'm not liable for the debt.

**Meya** · May 10th, 2008, 12:55 PM

They will have to dig up my relatives bones if they want their money back.

**CentaurusFinancial** · September 30th, 2012, 10:49 AM

Now this thread is getting quite interesting as I read more each reply one by one. I have never heard of a situation like this but it is indeed a question that we all are here to find answer.

**Wanderer** · October 1st, 2012, 10:52 AM

This would require looking at the laws for each state where a person dies as they are not all the same. A general rule of thumb is that the Estate legally is responsible to settle all financial affairs of the deceased. Often times an attorney would have the estate probated (court action) that gives all those who have a claim such as the Internal Revenue Service, Individual States and their taxes, creditors, mortgage lendors and the like to come forward and establish their claim. Once the cutoff date has come the court will rule and those coming after forfeit any and all rights to a claim. The process of probate places a notice in a legal newspaper letting those who might have a claim to come forward. You say what happens if they didn't see the legal notice when the judge rules? Too bad! Not probating leaves the legal process open to interpretation and it can get mucky. Oh, those who have claims due to a security interest in the property will have their right to reclaim.

In my case we did not probate and the IRS came forward six years and three months after my relatives death and claimed and obligation of $71,000 (shock would NOT even begin to explain how we felt). The IRS had a search and seizure order for which none of us even knew. Had the matter been probated there would have been no question. It took a total of thirteen years to run out all the statue of limitations and declare the matter closed. Not what you want for a surpirse. We had to engage the services of a Tax Attorney Specialist to work this one out. The statue of limitations didn't quite save us.

So. there is no one simple solid answer due to differences in state and federal law.