Deceased estate with inadequate funds for bills?

[Motig]

Anybody able to point me to what happens if a person dies without adequate cash to pay outstanding debts? Whose responsible for the bills?. I'm presuming if theres no money to pay the bills that its sort of like being bankrupt. Anybody had this problem, would just like to know for peace of mind.

[steve_t]

Appears to be a bit of a process. Start here:

http://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/p...DLM387733.html

[5150]

Appears to be a bit of a process. Start here:

http://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/p...DLM387733.html

Do you have an English version?

[SMOKEU]

Anybody had this problem, would just like to know for peace of mind.

I haven't carked it yet, so I wouldn't know.

[Edbear]

Unless you have gone security for the debts, they can try suing the deceased or write the debts off. Death is usually inconvenient at the time...

[Lozza2442]

Anybody able to point me to what happens if a person dies without adequate cash to pay outstanding debts? Whose responsible for the bills?. I'm presuming if theres no money to pay the bills that its sort of like being bankrupt. Anybody had this problem, would just like to know for peace of mind.

...you planning on offing yourself to get out of debt?

[Paul in NZ]

If a family member of yours has passed away and you are being hounded for the funds I suspect your best course of action is to contact a lawyer asap. It will cost you money but it could save you time...

Alternatively head off down to your local court house or community law office and ask them.

Free advice on the internet is usually worth exactly what you paid for it....

[Lozza2442]

Usually you just have to give a copy of death cert and the debts go away...

[Jantar]

The biggest concern is if their estate doesn't cover the cost of the funeral. Then the costs will fall on whoever contracted the funeral director.

[Lozza2442]

The biggest concern is if their estate doesn't cover the cost of the funeral. Then the costs will fall on whoever contracted the funeral director.

The government does help with this - http://www.workandincome.govt.nz/ind...ral-grant.html

[Jantar]

The government does help with this - http://www.workandincome.govt.nz/ind...ral-grant.html

When my mother-in-law died 6 years ago, that grant barely covered cost of the cheapest coffin and nothing else.

There is also this from the ODT: http://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/18...im-total-hokum

There were also much cheaper options; $2500 for the most basic.

Cut-price funerals were increasingly in demand, presumably because of hard economic times, he said.

Funeral directors subsidised funerals for the most vulnerable people as a "social service" , as the $1925 Work and Income grant did not cover the most basic funeral, Mr Garing said.

[oneofsix]

The biggest concern is if their estate doesn't cover the cost of the funeral. Then the costs will fall on whoever contracted the funeral director.

This CAB info may help
http://www.cab.org.nz/vat/fp/d/Pages...ofdeath.aspx#8

Warning: This may sound crass
Do you have to have a funeral? What about donating the remains to science? Saw a programme on Otago Uni trainee Doctors using donated bodies for training, didn't know this happened until I stumbled on the doco. Hadn't previously considered how the Doc got their training.

[jasonu]

Don't mean to be crass either but consider creamation as an alternative to burial if funds are an issue.

[Phantom Limb]

Don't mean to be crass either but consider creamation as an alternative to burial if funds are an issue.

+1

Saved heaps getting mum grilled!

[Lozza2442]

This CAB info may help
http://www.cab.org.nz/vat/fp/d/Pages...ofdeath.aspx#8

Warning: This may sound crass
Do you have to have a funeral? What about donating the remains to science? Saw a programme on Otago Uni trainee Doctors using donated bodies for training, didn't know this happened until I stumbled on the doco. Hadn't previously considered how the Doc got their training.

Hell, even if you do want a funeral you should donate your body to science. Just have a closed casket. Most people wont know the difference. It's just a place for people to come together to mourn regardless of if there's any body.