Are My Children Responsible for My Debt?

The short answer is no. You might read something on the internet that says otherwise but that would be deceptive. And debt collectors would not be expected to be honest. Some states have what are called filial responsibility laws that under some interpretations seem to impose a duty on adult children to support their parents. These laws are not enforced for various reasons. Because of Medicare and Medicaid medical bills and nursing home care is covered by the government.

So, unless a child cosigned on a loan or credit card a child would not be responsible for a parents debts. Of course, if parents had assets after costs of burial debt would need to be paid before heirs receive anything. Unless of course property is owned jointly with survivorship rights with a child or children. In that instance the property passes automatically by operation of law to the survivor without the need for debt to be paid.

HELPS has a video here that explains this in more detail

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