who is responsible for debt - help please

Thea's_Mummy

Not an easy one, I can't face talking to anyone on the phone just now and everyone here is alway so helpful.
My Mum has just been told that she has only a very short time to live.
I know that she has about £9,000 on a credit card, is my Dad responsible for this debt ? The card is in her name only. Thank you very much.

MYLITTLESISTERLOLA

Sorry to hear your bad news - I work in a bank and as far as I'm aware all debts will be settled from her estate. Does she have Payment protection on any of her borrowings visa/loans/mtg etc - she could make a claim under these. Or if she has life cover/Critical Illness cover. P.s. enjoy the time you have together, K

dzug

If the card is in her name only then your dad is not responsible. But any assets she has (oddments in bank accounts, maybe even half the house, etc) go towards paying it before your dad gets anything.

Clariman

dzug wrote: »

If the card is in her name only then your dad is not responsible. But any assets she has (oddments in bank accounts, maybe even half the house, etc) go towards paying it before your dad gets anything.

This is kind of right. Just one point of clarification. Credit cards are always only in one name so the card is either hers or your fathers, which means that the debt is either hers or your fathers. Even if the other person has a card associated with the account, only the principle cardholder is responsible for the debt.

As dzug and others have said, the debt will come out of your mother's estate i.e. from her share of any joint assets and any assets that are in her name only. If she has no assets then the debt would normally be written off.

Finally, may I say that I am really sorry to hear that your mother is so unwell and wish you all the best.

Clariman

Thea's_Mummy

Many thanks to you all for your kind advice and help.