Legal Question in Credit and Debt Law in California

Re: Unpaid bills of deceased

As a general rule, the family wouldn't be responsible unless they were cosigners on the debt. Of course, there are exception to every rule and you should consult a locat estate planning attorney about your specific situation.

It may be necessary to pay bills from the decedent's assets before anything can be distributed to the heirs. You shold consult a local estate planning attorney about methods to protect the family members to maximize the amount of assets that can be passed along to the heirs if a family does have a lot of debt.