Legal Question in Wills and Trusts in Illinois

retirement distribution and estate

My friend died recently(38yrs). He had been unemployed / uninsured for 3 years. He was trying to get disability. At the end he spent over a week in intensive care and ran up a large bill. After his death his mother (68yrs) received a disbursement from his retirement account. She was his beneficiary on the account. What I am concerned about is the hospital going to come after this money as part of the estate to pay part of the bills? The retirement and a car are the only assets he had left, and pretty much everything his mother has.


Asked on 10/05/06, 5:09 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Cyndi Perez Trostin

Re: retirement distribution and estate

Unless your friend was a dependent of his mother, or if she signed anything obligating her to be liable for his medical bills, then she should not be held responsible for his medical bills. If she was named beneficiary on the retirement account, the money would be hers and hers alone.

However, if she receives invoices related to her son's care, she should seek legal advice to assist her in responding to the demands for payment. Hopefully, such bills will never come.

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Answered on 10/06/06, 1:22 pm


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