Is child responsible for deceased parents' debts

[brownie_79]

What is the name of your state?
Indiana

I have been told that the child or children are responsible for a parents' debts when that parents dies. If the parent has no estate or nothing of value when they die how can the child or children be responsile for their debts? I am finding this hard to believe. How can you be responsible for what some other adult buys, charges, ect. when you have no knowledge or control over it. I would greatly appreciate it you could answer this question for me.

 

[Dandy Don]

Who is telling you this? Let me guess--it's a creditor who is owed money by your parents. Well, that person is incorrect.

Children (nor anyone else) can not be held responsible for a decedent's debts. The amounts will unfortunately have to remain unpaid and will probably be written off as bad debt in about a year's time.

DANDY DON

 

[brownie_79]

Thank you for your response. Actually my brother in law and I have been having a rather heated discussion about it.
Brownie_79

 

[Seanscott]

You can be responsible if you were a co-signer or your name was also on a shared credit card. If your name's not on it - you don't owe it.

 

[brownie_79]

Thank You for your response. That is what I thought. I had just been told otherwise.
Brownie_79