Ask the Experts Paying a Deceased Parent s Debt AARP Bulletin
Ask the Experts: Paying a Deceased Parent's Debt - AARP Bulletin
Ask the Experts Paying a Parent' s Debt
Q. My mother died recently, and I’m getting calls from a collection agency about her outstanding debt. Am I responsible for paying it? A. In most cases, surviving children are not legally obligated to pay the debt of a deceased parent. To stop a collector from calling, write a letter to the collection agency requesting that the calls cease. Send it by certified mail and ask for a return receipt. Keep a copy of the letter for your records. If the collector continues to call, in violation of federal debt collection laws, you should and with your . The FTC also has a downloadable information sheet about who is responsible for a dead relative’s debts. Carole Fleck is a senior editor at the AARP Bulletin. Cancel You are leaving AARP.org and going to the website of our trusted provider. The provider’s terms, conditions and policies apply. Please return to AARP.org to learn more about other benefits. Your email address is now confirmed. You'll start receiving the latest news, benefits, events, and programs related to AARP's mission to empower people to choose how they live as they age. You can also by updating your account at anytime. You will be asked to register or log in. Cancel Offer Details Disclosures
Close In the next 24 hours, you will receive an email to confirm your subscription to receive emails related to AARP volunteering. Once you confirm that subscription, you will regularly receive communications related to AARP volunteering. In the meantime, please feel free to search for ways to make a difference in your community at Javascript must be enabled to use this site. Please enable Javascript in your browser and try again.