Legal Question in Wills and Trusts in New York

Re: Estate Liability

Unless there is another responsible person on the card, no other person should be liable. I suggest a family member write the card company, informing them of the death and that there were no assets in the estate.

Re: Estate Liability

Not unless there was a guarantor to the account or the card was jointly owned.

Should you like to discuss this or any other legal matter, you can call my office to schedule an appointment for a consultation or in the alternative, I can be reached for on-phone low-cost legal consultation at 1-800-275-5336 x0233699.

Re: Estate Liability

There are limited situations where another person can be responsible for the decedent's debt. If there is a surviving spouse, and the debt was for a "necessity", the spouse may be responsible. And if the card had another owner, or if someone had co-signed for the debt, they would be responsible.

If none of those apply, write the credit card company and advise them that the decedent had no assets and will not have an estate opened, and they will write off the debt.

Re: Estate Liability

I am sorry for your loss.

The legal part of this is easy: no. you cannot inherit debts.