Legal Question in Credit and Debt Law in Kentucky

Re: debt

Any person over 18 may be sued for debt in Kentucky, unless they are incompetent and have a conservator appointed to handle their financial affairs. I that event, the conservator can be sued in place of the incompetent debtor, to represent the debtor's interests in court.

Unless the children are co-debtors with the parent, they are ordinarily not responsible for the parent's debt. That is, they are only responsible if the credit card or loan agreement is co-signed by parent and child.

Of course, if the parent dies, and then the child or children inherit anything of value from the parent (house, car, savings, etc.), either through the parent's last will and testament, or through intestate succession, if the parent dies without a will, then, in that event, the value of any inheritance would be reduced by the amount of any debts owed by the parent at the time of her death. If the debts exceed the value of the parent's total estate, however, the remaining child or children would not be legally responsible for any debt payment beyond the value of their inheritance.