Legal Question in Wills and Trusts in Washington

Wills, Estates

After my mother passed away, there are medical bills, am I responsible? The only money she had was her SS and as far as any bank accounts go, I was listed on them as well.


Asked on 1/28/09, 4:56 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys

Christopher Steuart IT Forensics, Inc.

Re: Wills, Estates

You are not personally responsible for her debts unless you were in some way responsible for them before her death, e.g. you both were on a credit card. If the bank accounts do not have enough money in it to cover probate fees and then pay the medical bills and leave the estate something it may not be worth it to the estate to do the probate. Depending on how you were listed on the bank accounts (e.g. with rights of survivorship) you may still be able to access them and use them to pay off the bills, but it you were the accounts with a Power of Attorney, it ended with your mother's death. Based on the information you have provided, it comes down to there being a couple of ways this could go legally, and at least a couple of potential decisions you would have to make.

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Answered on 1/28/09, 5:10 pm


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