Do you inherit your parents medical debt?
Daniel Santos
Updated on February 05, 2026
In most cases, the deceased person’s estate is responsible for paying any debt left behind, including medical bills. If there’s not enough money in the estate, family members still generally aren’t responsible for covering a loved one’s medical debt after death — although there are some exceptions.
Is executor responsible for debt?
You’re responsible for clearing the estate’s debts If a creditor comes forward after the estate has been settled and assets have been distributed, again, the executor will be personally liable.
Who is responsible for your parents’medical Bills after they die?
In most cases, only the estate is responsible for your parents’ medical bills after they’ve died. In very rare instances will you need to cover these expenses yourself. If you’re the executor of your parents’ estate, it is up to you to pay these medical expenses with funds from your parents’ liquid cash and assets.
Can a son be responsible for his mother’s debt?
As such, being a son or daughter is not enough to make you liable for your mother’s unpaid obligations. While this applies to other relatives as well, there are a couple exceptions: Cosigning for the Debt. When you “cosign” on a credit contract with someone else, you each agree to be responsible for the debt.
Who is responsible for your spouse’s medical bills?
Marital debts: In some states, called community property states, debts incurred by one spouse during marriage are equally owned. This would lead one spouse to be on the hook for the other’s medical expenses. However, talk to an attorney to determine whether this is true of your location and your debt.
Who is responsible for a deceased spouse’s credit card debt?
You’re the deceased person’s spouse and state law requires that you pay for the debt, like certain healthcare expenses paid for with a credit card. You were legally responsible for administering the estate and didn’t comply with certain state probate laws.