Legal Question in Wills and Trusts in Pennsylvania
Beneficiaries
My father recently passed away from cancer. My sister and I are the only beneficiaries. We have been contacted by different medical providers asking us if our father had life insurance. Are we responsible for his medical bills? A social worker from Hospice told us that we are not responsible for medical bills and to not worry about them. After the phone calls, I'm conerned. We just received information from his life insurance company that they opened a money market account with a balance of ten thousand dollars. I could use the money to help with my medicaly fragile son. I am just afraid to touch it if we are responsible for my fathers medical expenses. He also had a 401k. I have no idea of the amount. We are having trouble getting any information from his employer. My father had no other bills other than these medical bills. Are my sister and I responsible for paying for these?
1 Answer from Attorneys
Re: Beneficiaries
You are not personally responsible for the medical bills unless you personally guaranteed them. However your fathers estate may be responsible.
The proceeds of the life insurance and 401k belong to the beneficiaries he named on the documents. If he didn't name anyone then they go to his estate and can be claimed by his creditors.
Sorry about your loss.
Good luck to you.
Related Questions & Answers
Looking for something else?
10,200 active attorneys ready to answer your legal questions today.
Featured Attorneys
Earn additional revenue and grow your business.
