Legal Eagle

[porschebabe]

Bit of a legal question this one. If married person has a loan and he dies does the wife become liable for it. Also if in a will someone leaves money to someone, but when they die there is now money, what happens??

[sddsddean]

As long as the loan is wholly in his name, no. This is also true for things like credit cards. If someone dies and there is anything to pay, the credit card company will normally 'write off' the debt, unless it is for some huge sum. Which brings us to the next point. If there is no money in the estate, there is no money to pay inheritences etc. You just ignore it. However, if, say, there was �1000 willed to different people and only �500 available, everyone would be paid in proportion (unless someone started contesting the will, when it all gets very messy and the solicitors make a fortune!)

[cucumbers]

is it not also legal to leave a debt to someone in a will as it is to leave a sum of money ? I recall in the dim distant past a legal beagle friend mentioning this. any views ?