Legal Question in Wills and Trusts in Arkansas
Debt after death
My father passed awy recently leaving a will that divided everything in fourths -- to my step-mother, half sister, my biological sister and me. We recently received a letter from the executor and the lawyer wanting a release to pay my father's bills. The credit card debt was a lot larger than I anticipated. My stepmother bought a brand new state of the art computer shortly after my father's death, and I am suspicious that she purchased it with the credit card that was in his name. Is the estate responsible for paying for debt incurred on the credit card after my father's death?
2 Answers from Attorneys
Re: Debt after death
You need to contact the Attorney handling the Estate to answer your question(s)...
Re: Debt after death
Legal bills of his should be paid by the estate. However, you should raise the question as to what makes up that bill, and even get copies of the statements to determine if the card was used after his death. If the card was used after his death, then that part is not part of the estate's responsibility. Remember, the Attorney representing the estate does not represent you, but may represent the widow. You may need to retain your own Atty to make sure your interests and concerns are properly addressed. I would start with the Atty for the estate and if you do not get what you need, then retain your own Atty and go get-em.