When a family member dies, the last thing grieving relatives may expect are calls from debt collectors asking them to pay their loved one’s outstanding debts.
The fact is surviving family members often have no legal obligation to pay the debt of a deceased relative. Even a spouse’s obligation to pay may be limited under state probate law.
To help consumers understand who is responsible for a dead relative’s debts, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the nation’s consumer protection agency responsible for enforcing the Funeral Rule, just published a consumer alert Paying the Debts of a Deceased Relative: Who Is Responsible?
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Paying the Debts of a Deceased Relative: Who Is Responsible?