Paying medical bills for deceased parent

Hello! My name is Dolan and thank you so much for contacting me! I just had a few quick questions for you:

I'm so sorry about your loss. Was there any paperwork or agreement signed by your mother (or you, if involved) at the hospital that might indicate responsibility for covering your father’s medical bills? Sometimes hospitals will include a financial responsibility clause in admission forms, so it’s worth looking into what was signed, if anything. Are there any other assets in your father’s estate besides the home that might be used to address outstanding debts? Knowing whether the estate has liquid assets (like bank accounts, investments, or other property) will help determine if the estate itself can handle the medical bills, or if the bills may eventually come back to your mother.

Got it! What state is this in ?

Understood! So you're just wondering what her rights are here, correct?

Got it! I've been working on an answer while we've been chatting, so it'll just be a moment.

Generally, family members, spouses, friends, neighbors, children, and acquaintances are not liable for the debts of a deceased person. The trouble is that NV law would generally hold her to account for the medical bills. Here is why; 1. Under NRS 123.100, both spouses in Nevada have an equal duty to support one another. This duty includes responsibility for medical expenses incurred during the marriage. 2.. In what's called the "Swogger case", the court held that the surviving spouse was liable for the deceased spouse's medical bills. The court reasoned that these expenses are considered community debts, which are enforceable against either spouse individually or their community property. 3. The court emphasized that medical debts incurred during the marriage are obligations of the marital community, and the death of one spouse does not extinguish this liability for the surviving spouse. 4. The decision clarified that the liability for these medical expenses is not based solely on the decedent’s personal estate but also on the surviving spouse’s shared duty of support under community property principles. 5. The surviving spouse’s liability is subject to the overall rules of community property, meaning the surviving spouse could be held accountable regardless of whose name was on the medical bills. So what do you do?

1. Yes, notify them; 2. If your father's estate has assets, the estate is typically the first place creditors should turn for payment. As far as the home, it's in her name so it's not as if they can just take the house from her: 3. Wait until the medical bills start coming in. Don’t rush to pay anything without understanding the details. When a bill arrives, your mom should request an itemized statement to ensure the charges are accurate. 4. Consider whether your dad had any insurance beyond Medicare.. Even a life insurance policy could help cover the bills; 5. If the bills are substantial and your mom is being asked to pay more than what the estate can cover, she may want to consider negotiating with the hospital or creditors. They often will work to forgive or work with debtors. 6. If mom's financial woes are too great, she can try 211.org. It's basically a source for emergency help for older folks. I know it’s a lot, but does that help make sense of things a bit more? I want to make sure I didn’t leave anything out.

Got it. Almost always, they will settle whether or not you have a lawyer. You can try to find a lawyer, but sometimes their fees will exceed what you save. Creditors may accept 50-65% of the balance. Be persistent with calls and emails. Hiring a debt relief attorney is an option, but DIY is cheaper. You can draft your own debt settlement offer to them. I have a debt settlement agreement you can buy as well. It's super cheap and you c an always come back here to ask questions, too! - https://www.contractscounsel.com/t/document-form-checkout/120 I drafted this document.

I'm very sorry about that! I want to ensure you feel completely satisfied with our conversation. Were there any details I missed?  Did you have any concerns about this issue that still need to be addressed?

Sure! I hope I’ve provided the information you were seeking. If you need more help, please let me know so l can continue to assist you.