Legal Question in Civil Litigation in Maryland
Verbal Contract
I borrowed some money from my aunt. She has died and my cousin says that I must repay the money to him. Because of health issues I have lost work time and have some large bills and cannot afford to pay him.Can he force me to pay?
1 Answer from Attorneys
Re: Verbal Contract
Your debt to your aunt becomes the property of her estate upon her death. If the cousin is the executor, also known as the personal representative, of her estate, he can try to collect the debt on behalf of the estate. He may also be her sole beneficiary if she had a will. In that case, he would ultimately end up with the benefits of the collection. But legally speaking, you owe the money to the estate, not the cousin. I suggest you try to work out a repayment plan that is within your budget.