Alison in Maine
Junior Member
What is the name of your state?What is the name of your state? Maine
My Dad left a will and named me personal rep. Dad's property consisted of three vehicles which I have sold for a total of $23,800.00. He has outstanding bills (utility, credit cards) of $6,203.66. To date, I have paid out $22,228.20 for funeral expenses, probate costs, (payoffs on two of the vehicles, payback for one pension check directly deposited after his death, and IRS 2004 tax amount due.) The will has been through Probate in Cumberland County, Maine (Filed April 12, 2005 with end of Probate on August 12, 2005.) Not one of the companies have notified the court that Dad owed them money even though the notices were placed in the paper as required.
My question is: Am I responsible for paying any of those bills (I did notify each one that he had died and a few continued to send him bills month after month and one sent his bill to a collection agency.) One creditor sent me a legal form asking me as PR to either accept the claim against the estate, deny the claim, or assume partial payment of the claim. I sent them back a registered letter explaining that it was a very small estate and there was no money therefore I denied the claim. They did not notify the Probate Court asking to have the claim reconsidered and I have not heard a word from them.
I cannot afford an attorney so I'm trying to get an answer through this site.
My Dad left a will and named me personal rep. Dad's property consisted of three vehicles which I have sold for a total of $23,800.00. He has outstanding bills (utility, credit cards) of $6,203.66. To date, I have paid out $22,228.20 for funeral expenses, probate costs, (payoffs on two of the vehicles, payback for one pension check directly deposited after his death, and IRS 2004 tax amount due.) The will has been through Probate in Cumberland County, Maine (Filed April 12, 2005 with end of Probate on August 12, 2005.) Not one of the companies have notified the court that Dad owed them money even though the notices were placed in the paper as required.
My question is: Am I responsible for paying any of those bills (I did notify each one that he had died and a few continued to send him bills month after month and one sent his bill to a collection agency.) One creditor sent me a legal form asking me as PR to either accept the claim against the estate, deny the claim, or assume partial payment of the claim. I sent them back a registered letter explaining that it was a very small estate and there was no money therefore I denied the claim. They did not notify the Probate Court asking to have the claim reconsidered and I have not heard a word from them.
I cannot afford an attorney so I'm trying to get an answer through this site.