Dealing with Debt

questions & answers

Question: My husband died in Nov. and I am living only on Social Security. His hospital bills are now coming in. Am I, by law, obligated to pay them???

Answer: Social security  is federally protected income.  It does not have to be used to pay this debt

Hospital bills are typically a debt of the "community." Therefore there may be some responsibilty on the part of the non-deceased spouse to pay them. Most medical providers will either discount or forgive the debt if the spouse can show that he or she has no means to pay the bills and that there are no assets subject to probate.

QUESTIONS

  • My husband died in Nov. and I am living only on Social Security. His hospital bills are now coming in. Am I, by law, obligated to pay them???

STORIES

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FIND LEGAL HELP

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OTHER LEGAL RESOURCES

  • State Bar of Arizona
    www.azbar.org
  • Maricopa County Bar
    www.maricopabar.org
    Referral number 602-257-4434
  • Pima County Bar
    www.pimacountybar.org
    Referral number 520-623-4625
  • National Domestic Violence Hotline
    800-799-7233
  • Bankruptcy Court Self Help Center
    866-553-0893
  • Certified Legal Document Preparer Program
    Link

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