Help needed over deceased husband's debts

cutofherjib

Hi, I'm asking for help on behalf of a friend of the wife, who separated from her husband November 2009.
He died a few weeks ago and has left a mountain of debt and unpaid fines.
Some of the debt has his wife's address and some his address.
Her home is in their joint names (mortgaged), his was rented.

He had a well paid job, but had given it up so that the CSA couldn't pay her maintenance (one daughter) out of his wages, and he wasn't paying his rent,rates,utility bills either.

She's skint and earns just above the limit for legal aid.
She is waiting to see CAB and then a Solicitor, but that won't be until next week, and she could do with hearing she's not liable for all or some of it.
Any hope?

Oh, nearly forgot.....No Life Insurance either, even on the Mortgage!

katsu

As he has a share in the house, if it has equity then there may be some issues with it being considered as his estate.

Does googling for bereavement charities or calling for advice from someone like national debtline generate any links to useful factsheets?

Just a couple of thoughts to keep you bumped up for attention from someone knowledgeable.

Best wishes for your friend.

cutofherjib

Thanks Katsu, here's hoping someone will be able to help.

rosyw

With regards to the house, if they owned it as "joint tennats", this automatically becomes yhour friend property and does NLT form part of his estate, if they owned it as "tennants in common" then the % that he owned is counted as part of his estate. Regarding the debts, if they were in his name only,no joint loans etc., then they become debts of his estate and your friend is not liable for any of them, please don't let anyone try to tell her differently!! they will try, believe me I knoiw, they tried it with me when I lost my OH a couple of years back, some even tried to take me to court, they got nowhere as the debts weren't mine.
You should be able to find some useful info here: http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/ManagingDebt/DebtsAndArrears/DG_10013093