Q: My husband passed away, no will. He was the sole owner on the house and one vehicle. Will I be forced to sell home
Husband has credit card debt. There are no cash assets as all bank accounts were jointly owned.
A:
When someone dies without a will, the laws of intestate succession apply. Depending on what other family they leave behind, property may have to be split with the children or parents of the person who died. Generally the person handling the estate will want to wait before paying credit card debt off to see what other claims might be filed against the estate - the law gives an order or "priority" of paying obligations in an estate.
Please sit down with an attorney who can take a look at the specifics of the family members, the debts and the assets and help guide you through the process. Even if you decide to handle the probate administration on your own it generally is helpful to get legal advice before opening up the estate.
While this response isn't legal advice or a promise to represent, I hope that the general information helps.
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