When a parent dies who is responsible for their debt?
Sarah Martinez
Updated on January 28, 2026
When a person dies, his or her estate is responsible for settling debts. If there is not enough money in the estate to pay off those debts – in other words, the estate is insolvent – the debts are wiped out, in most cases.
Is a sibling responsible for debt after death?
If you have a debt in joint names – e.g. a credit card debt – then everyone whose name is on the account is responsible for the debt. If one account holder dies, the other holders must still continue to pay off the debt as usual.
Will I inherit parents debt?
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 my brother’s debts now that he has died?
And if you somehow receive correspondence or phone calls, you can ignore them. Your brother’s estate is responsible for his debts. But you are not responsible to find his Will and file probate papers in the local county where he died if you are not the…
Who is responsible for paying medical bills of a deceased parent?
If your parent wasn’t on Medicaid, but died with unpaid hospital or doctor bills, the estate is responsible for paying them if it has the money. But check state law. Close to 30 states have what’s known as “filial responsibility” statutes.
Can a child inherit a deceased parent’s medical debt?
But check state law. Close to 30 states have what’s known as “filial responsibility” statutes. Those require adult children to pay for a deceased parent’s unpaid medical debts, such as those to hospitals or nursing homes, when the estate cannot.
What are my rights if my parents died and my brother was?
Even if you were not named in your parents’ will (s), you have the right to read the will, any codicils (amendments) to it, and court filings. You also have the right to notifications about upcoming court hearings.
