Be careful what funerals you attend.

[hatredisnotavalue]

My father, who I had only once remebering meeting in my teens, died in Aug. My mother, who I was brought up by, broke her hip the day my father's second wife called to tell me he was dying. I opted not to go to his bedside, (How heartless of me) and stay with the person who had brought me up. (my mother)

Back about 15 years ago, my father called my mother and told her he was dying and wanted to put me in the will. Being better circumstances, I drove 200 miles to meet with him at his step-daughters's home with my then one and two yo.

I sent the obligatory Christmas gift and pics after that, but didn't have much contact with him as he did not appear to be very interested in my life.

Well he died, and I really have expected some type of inheritance because his family seemed so much better off then mine. ( I grew up on welfare, he never sent a dime for my upbringing.) The step-son's house had matching towels and a pool when I visited 15 years ago.

Well come to find out, he was $200,000 in debt, and I would have been responsible for a portion of it if I gone to the funeral, according to my attorney friend. Since I didn't, I am not resposible for his debt. NO wonder the wife was so adamant about my going to his funeral 2000 miles away.

This is not God's Gospel, just something a lawyer friend told me.
So be careful what funerals you attend.
edited for puncuation.

[Bunny]

1. Not to be rude, but I do not see how you could have been held

responsible for any of his debts. You didn't sign for them, so why would you have to pay them? It's not adding up. :shrug:

[Book Lover]

2. If you had gone to the funeral?

I am not a lawyer, but I don't see how attending a service confers legal responsibilities. It's all about the will and your state laws, AFAIK. I'm glad you're not stuck with anything at any rate! Hope your mother is getting better.

[amazona]

3. you can't inherit debt

Thomas Jefferson made a point of that issue, which was a very personal one for him.

Your "lawyer" friend is either not very well-informed or is (more likely) just trying to make you feel better for not attending your father's funeral.

I think you did the right thing in caring for your injured mother.

The conservation movement is a breeding ground of communists
and other subversives. We intend to clean them out,
even if it means rounding up every birdwatcher in the country.
--John Mitchell, US Attorney General 1969-72

[Lex]

4. Your attorney friend is mistaken.

Debt of a deceased parent doesn't pass on to his heirs, regardless of who attends the funeral.

[hatredisnotavalue]

6. Really is that true?

My mother who owes about $60,000 is on death's door and I assumed I would be responsible for the mortgage on her house if I wanted to keep the house.

[Bunny]

8. Well, yes, if you want to keep her house you will have to keep up

the payments on it. But you could be forced to sell it to settle her estate. But don't pay much attention to me, I am not a lawyer. ;)

I hope your mom gets better. :hug:

[Lex]

9. "If I wanted to keep the house".

The assets of the deceased are used to pay off the debts of the deceased.

If the estate can't pay off the debts through the sale of the assets of the deceased, then the debts aren't passed on to the heirs.

If you ELECT to keep the assets (the house) then you will have the debt on the house to deal with.

But no one can force you to take on the debts of a parent.

[Cuban_Liberal]

5. Your lawyer friend is mistaken. n/t

[hatredisnotavalue]

7. Thanks so much

I only said he was a friend lawyer, not a great lawyer.:)

[Midlodemocrat]

10. Not true.

My dad, who passed in August, was hospitalized for six weeks before he died. We opted to hold the bed at the nursing home where he lived at the rate of $170 a day. When he passed, the nursing home was in a panic about whether or not we would pay. We did, but we did not have to. I just felt morally it was the right thing to do. They were very, very good to him.

When my mom passed away, there were many, many bills related to her death, and although we did pay most of them, we were absolutely not obligated to do so.

[AlCzervik]

11. the debts get charged against the estate, if the estate is worth less

then the debts owed then the debts are charged off. If you ever need a lawyer i would suggest you not use your friend.

[SheilaT]

12. I wonder about your lawyer friend

that he's so misinformed about this thing. I wonder where in the world he got the idea that attending a funeral confers obligation for debt?