Rent a center harrassing me for item wife had leased before her recent death

[oneweek]

I live in washington state.
My wife passed away a month ago.
before her death she had went to rent a center to lease a cell phone.
I have been unable to locate said phone and they are showing up at my apartment asking for it.
I don't know what happened to it, it may have been tossed out when i was cleaning and taking things of her to the goodwill donation box or tossing stuff out when i was in a cleaning frenzy, being i tend to clean when stressed.
It may have even been taken from her van, being she left it in her van by mistake alot and her van was unlocked for about a week after her death.
I can't call it being the service ended a few days after her death due to her not being here to pay it.

Am I liable for this debt?
If i can't find it will they try and sue me for her debt? I know Washington is a community state.. so does that go for rent to own items?

 

[ecmst12]

Yes, you're going to be responsible for this debt in a community property state. It sucks that they're harassing you about it but that's kind of their business. Just tell them that you can't find it and ask for the bill.

 

[quincy]

I live in washington state.
My wife passed away a month ago.
before her death she had went to rent a center to lease a cell phone.
I have been unable to locate said phone and they are showing up at my apartment asking for it.
I don't know what happened to it, it may have been tossed out when i was cleaning and taking things of her to the goodwill donation box or tossing stuff out when i was in a cleaning frenzy, being i tend to clean when stressed.
It may have even been taken from her van, being she left it in her van by mistake alot and her van was unlocked for about a week after her death.
I can't call it being the service ended a few days after her death due to her not being here to pay it.

Am I liable for this debt?
If i can't find it will they try and sue me for her debt? I know Washington is a community state.. so does that go for rent to own items?

I am sorry for the loss of your wife.

I am sure that the last thing you want to worry about right now is the leased cell phone but, yes, you are liable for the debt.

Here is a link from NOLO that addresses the same question you ask here: http://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/do-i-pay-late-spouses-debts-i-live-community-property-state.html

The rent a center could potentially sue you to collect on the cost of the phone if you cannot find it. Do you know the value of the phone?



late edit: If anyone had trouble accessing the NOLO site through the link I provided, it is now fixed and should work. Sorry for the earlier error.

 

[davew128]

Really, who LEASES a phone? Geez, a person with lousy credit can buy a low level smart phone for $50 at a retailer or craigslist.

 

[LdiJ]

I am sorry for the loss of your wife.

I am sure that the last thing you want to worry about right now is the leased cell phone but, yes, you are liable for the debt.

Here is a link from NOLO that addresses the same question you ask here: http://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/do-i-pay-late-spouses-debts-i-live-in-a-community-property-state.html

The rent a center could potentially sue you to collect on the cost of the phone if you cannot find it. Do you know the value of the phone?

Wait a minute...are we forgetting that it was a premarital debt? Doesn't that make it a separate debt in a community property state?

Whoops, re-read, got that wrong, its not premarital.

 

[Proserpina]

Really, who LEASES a phone? Geez, a person with lousy credit can buy a low level smart phone for $50 at a retailer or craigslist.

Gee, way to be all relevant and helpful, dave!

OP, talk to them again. Yes, it's a community debt and they are indeed within their rights to pursue you but talk to them again; sometimes they'll be willing to let it go.

Yes, I'm in your state and yes, I've seen it happen.

 

[davew128]

Gee, way to be all relevant and helpful, dave!

Probably leasing a iPhone too.

 

[STEPHAN]

...are we forgetting that it was a premarital debt?

Would have been a really old phone ;-)

 

[oneweek]

I have no idea why she leased the phone.. Once i found out i told her to take it back due to the long term cost.. but then she passed the following month.

I think the phone was like $300 if she payed cash.. and like $2.200 if she leased it full term.. thats why i told her to take it back.