You typically can't inherit debt from your parents unless you co-signed for the debt or applied for credit together with the person who died.
What happens if your parent dies with debt?
As a rule, a person's debts do not go away when they die. Those debts are owed by and paid from the deceased person's estate. By law, family members do not usually have to pay the debts of a deceased relative from their own money. If there isn't enough money in the estate to cover the debt, it usually goes unpaid.
Does debt pass to next of kin?
No, when someone dies owing a debt, the debt does not go away. Generally, the deceased person's estate is responsible for paying any unpaid debts. That person pays any debts from the money in the estate, not from their own money.
Does your parents debt go to you when they die?
In most cases, an individual's debt isn't inherited by their spouse or family members. Instead, the deceased person's estate will typically settle their outstanding debts. In other words, the assets they held at the time of their death will go toward paying off what they owed when they passed.
What debts are forgiven at death?
- Secured Debt. If the deceased died with a mortgage on her home, whoever winds up with the house is responsible for the debt.
- Unsecured Debt. Any unsecured debt, such as a credit card, has to be paid only if there are enough assets in the estate.
- Student Loans.
- Taxes.