If my grandma recently passed away, how we pay her medical and credit card bills?
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If my grandma recently passed away, how we pay her medical and credit card bills?
Do we have to sell off her estate to do so? She left her house to my sister. I’m estimating her bills to be much higher than what she has in life insurance and the value of the contents of her house. Will we need to sell the house to pay the bills?
Asked on January 2, 2013 under Estate Planning, Illinois
Answers:
Catherine Blackburn / Blackburn Law Firm
Answered 11 years ago | Contributor
In Florida, you would not have to sell the house to pay your grandma's bills, but Florida has special protections for homestead property. Whether the house can be passed without paying the creditors may depend on how your grandma left it to your sister. You will need to check with a probate attorney in your state to know for sure about the house.
The life insurance proceeds will be paid outside your grandma's estate and need not be used to pay her bills (unless her estate is the beneficiary or she failed to name a beneficiary). Her household contents should also be exempt from creditors (and would be difficult to liquidate anyway).
I suggest you consult a probate attorney in your grandma's area to find out what you should do.
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