Q: When a resident of Chesterfield , VA dies, never married or had any children, are medical bills automatically wiped off?
The decedent passed away in 2021 and we were told that the medical bills had to be paid off regardless of the passing away.
A: Yes, the bills have to be paid ... but not by you. The creditors may file a probate estate for the decedent and/or file a claim in an existing estate, and they may get paid from the estate assets. Far more rarely, if the medical treatment was "necessary," which medical treatment is usually deemed such, the creditor can file a claim against the spouse who may or may not have any assets. If you aren't the spouse or the estate administrator or executor, it's unclear why they are talking to you. Well.... It's not unclear "why." It's unclear why you are answering. If you have inherited estate assets of the decedent, it is wise to consult Virginia counsel.
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