Can the debt go away with the death of the debtor? Unfortunately, you can’t skip debt even when you are dead. After your death, your debt is not passed on to your family members until and unless there is some kind of legal documentation present. Your relatives will only be accountable for your debt if they were a joint debtor or a guarantor.
So, if a person who is self-employed dies without paying the complete installment, then that money is collected through the estate, if the individual’s family members haven’t intervened yet and made the necessary payment. However, here, we will talk about the future of other debts such as credit cards, mortgage, and insurance.
Car Loan and Mortgage
If the dying individual was married, then they might have signed up for mutual agreement mortgage. In this case, after the death of one of the spouse, the other spouse is lawfully responsible for paying off the rest of the mortgage. However, there are circumstances when the partner is incapable of paying the debt without the income of the dead spouse. In this case, if you have a proper insurance plan beforehand, it will protect your spouse and other family members who are involved.
If your partner is unable to pay that money, traditionally, lenders go after your property to get the complete payment of the debt. The loans and bills are paid with the remaining assets and the proceeds of the deceased’s estate go to the trustees. Moreover, the creditors are informed about the person’s death, and are provided with a copy of the death certificate for the closing of the accounts.
Credit Card Debt
After your death, all debts on credit cards issued under your name will be disregarded and the lending company will bear the loss. But, if the credit card is issued and co-signed with a spouse, then they are accountable for making the remaining payments. Additionally, make sure to add a clause in your will about the removal of your name from different accounts to avoid any deceitful activities.
Insurance
You don’t want to die and leave your family buried under a mountain of debts. For this purpose, a proper insurance plan is necessary. There is the option of credit card insurance, life insurance, and mortgage insurance available. However, you need to assess their pros and cons and then decide on which is the better option for you.
The distribution of the property cannot take place until and unless all the debts, loans, and bills are paid. After the payment, you can pass on the assets as mentioned in the will. However, if the funds are not enough, they are dismissed as long as there is no co-signer, guarantor, or joint creditor.
To get information regarding the debts you are supposed to pay and which are dismissible, you can get the help of the best counselor and make sure your family doesn’t suffer because of the debt you owe.
