Can I be held liable for my mother's debt when she passes if she has not insurance or estate?

Full question:

When my mother passes away, and she has no life insurance or estate, can I, as her daughter, be held responsible for her bills?

Answer:

If you inherit no property from her, and her property is used to pay outstanding debts, then the answer is no. Some statutes make heirs liable for the debts of their ancestor with respect to real estate passed to them by the laws of descent and distribution..

Also, under some statutes, an action may be maintained against the next of kin of an intestate to recover, to the extent of assets paid or distributed to them, for the debt of an ancestor. Such liability is not ordinarily personal, and exists only as to the property of the ancestor in the hands of the heir or distributee, but it is personal if the heir or distributee refuses to disclose or falsely pleads as to such property or if he or she transfers it while it is still liable for the debts of the ancestor.

This content is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Legal statutes mentioned reflect the law at the time the content was written and may no longer be current. Always verify the latest version of the law before relying on it.

FAQs

Generally, children do not inherit their parent's debts unless they co-signed loans or are otherwise legally responsible for them. If the parent passes away with debts, those debts must be settled from the parent's estate. If the estate has no assets, the debts typically go unpaid, and the children are not personally liable.