Legal Question in Credit and Debt Law in Wisconsin

my mother recently passed away and I received a letter from her friend demanding money for his work he helped my mom with on her house over the last 25 years. Is this something I need to even worry about having to pay. My mom's house is about 5 days away from closing on and I wondered if after the house is sold if I would need to worry about this letter requesting money?


Asked on 6/29/15, 3:24 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys

JAY Nixon nixon law offices

Creditors have the right to be paid from the estate and assets of deceased person (if any), as well as a right to sue to enforce their claims. For a short time, contractors also have the right to file liens against real estate, which could hold up the closing or force payment at closing if already in place. Either way, however, claims for work done a long time ago may no longer be recoverable due to the statute of limitations, so you should retain a lawyer to investigate the enforceability, and hold back enough money to pay it until you know the outcome of this investigation.

Answering this question does not make me your lawyer, and I would normally not do anything else on your case without additional arrangements, although you can ask for clarifications here or also see my past answers to similar questions at http://www.avvo.com/attorneys/53401-wi-jay-nixon-1529181/answers.html?sort=recency. View over fifteen years of past answers at http://www.lawguru.com/answers/search/attorney/jknixon or www.jayknixonlaw.com. Answers may contain attorney advertising materials. .

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Answered on 6/30/15, 5:20 am


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