Catalogue Debt on Death

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My friends mother died last week. Since then my friend has found out her mum had a catalogue account with her neighbour. Does anyone one know if the catalgue debt dies as my friend's mum's neighbour is looking to my friend for payment.

[dzug]

The debt doesn't die.

Your friend is not personally liable for payment but whoever winds up the mother's estate has to pay the debt out of the mother's assets. Only if there aren't any assets does the debt die.

[brenda]

Dzug , is spot on . Your friend is under no obligation to settle this debt , until your friend's Mum's affairs are all settledby the person who is dealing with this.If there is money in the estate at the end of all this , then debts can be settled.Your friend should write to thecatalogue company telling them of her Mum's death , enclosing a copy of the death certificate . She needs to say that the estate is being wound up and any debts will be settled at that time if sufficient money remains.She should also ask , please.for the return of the death certificate when the company have copied it.

[Androcles]

Exactly as the other two said - I had this happen when my Mum died. I told the catalog company I would settle up as executor as soon as I had a grant of letters of administration, and they were fine about it.

[fadeout73]

Thanks for all your answers, I thought that but wanted to double check before she started passing money to the neighbour. Thanks again.

[themas]

There is one qualification. The first charge on any assets in the estate is the funeral expenses. It is only after these are paid that money (if there is any is the estate) has to be paid to creditors.