Not so fast. You will not worry about your bills, but your survivors may have a problem. The New York Times reports about an agency that specializes in collecting bills from the dead. In Florida, credit card companies have frequently filed claims against estates which then are settled under the probate process. But what happens when the decedent has no estate or assets. These agencies will then contact the relatives of the decedent. Even though there is no legal obligation for the relatives to pay the bill, they often will pay out of some sense of moral obligation or as way to honor the wishes of their loved ones. In fact, agencies that specialize in collecting from the dead report that they are quite successful.
If you find yourself dealing with the death of a loved one and unpaid bills, please seek independent legal advice.
