Is he responsible?

[Jemisa]

"When you die your debts die with you"

Thats how it used to be I know but not so today it seems.

My H old aunty died over a year ago and the gas co' and electric co' have now sent him letters to say he is responsible for those bills, Is he?

and where or how did they know about him as her only surviving relative.

jem

[redcrx]

the bills should be paid from her estate.
I suppose that if he has inherited any money or property then it should have come from that

[mike11111]

He is not responsible per se, but if he is the executor of the will he has a duty to see that all debts are paid from the estate.

[Jemisa]

He doesn't want to shirk any of his responsibilities. but how did they track him down? We have moved away now for 18 months. we didn't even live here then, why didn't the demands go to our old address? we're in contact with the buyers still & they always send any post on.,
Strange

jem

[redcrx]

perhaps theyve got a copy of the will somehow and know that he is executor? or maybe the new owners have been getting hassled and have passed your details on

[Jemisa]

Yes redcrx, perhaps, although she didn't make a will.

But hey-ho thats life, Big Brother is always watching eh?

It wov't make such a big dent.

Thanks for your interest.

jem

[DEN53]

he should'nt be responsible for the bills Jem. When my mother-in-law died - albeit she lived in a council property - I wrote letters to her catalogue company, gas and electricity suppliers and sent copies of Death Certificate - they wrote all the outstanding bills off.

[redcrx]

thats right Den, if she had no estate.

but they will want paying if there were any monies in the deceased estates.

Jem, you could just ask where they got your details, i doubt its anything sinister lol.

[factor-fiction]

""When you die your debts die with you. That's how it used to be I know ...."
No, I'm not aware of a time when that was the case. It's an urban myth.
The estate is always liable for debts of the deceased provided there is enough in the estate. No individual is liable- just the estate- although of course if there is a beneficiary then that person perceives that they are paying the debt because their inheritance is less than it woudl otherwise have been.