Estate/beneficiaries obligated to cover funeral expenses?

[Cooper@1960]

Ohio.

Any legal obligation for the beneficiaries (two children) of an estate to cover burial expenses?

 

[quincy]

From the Ohio Bar Organization, here is an answer to your question:

https://www.ohiobar.org/public-reso...ning/when-a-loved-one-dieswho-pays-the-bills/

 

[Cooper@1960]

Thank you Quincy.

 

[quincy]

Thank you Quincy.

You’re welcome, Cooper.

 

[adjusterjack]

Indirectly, maybe, because the estate has to pay for it before the heirs get any money.

And the funeral home and cemetary will probably want personal guarantees from whoever arranges the funeral, rather than rely on anything coming from the estate.

 

[quincy]

There is no legal obligation for the beneficiaries to pay for anything, however.

 

[adjusterjack]

There is no legal obligation for the beneficiaries to pay for anything, however.

That's what I said.

 

[quincy]

That's what I said.

Indirectly maybe.

 

[adjusterjack]

That's right.

 

[LdiJ]

There is no legal obligation for the beneficiaries to pay for anything, however.

Well, unless the person ending up giving the personal guarantee ends up being one of the beneficiaries.

 

[quincy]

The Ohio Bar explained everything pretty well.

 

[Zigner]

Well, unless the person ending up giving the personal guarantee ends up being one of the beneficiaries.

Their status as a beneficiary does not require them to pay the estate's bills. Their status of a personal guarantor may, but that is separate from their status as a beneficiary.

 

[quincy]

Their status as a beneficiary does not require them to pay the estate's bills. Their status of a personal guarantor may, but that is separate from their status as a beneficiary.

A beneficiary can “refuse,” or disclaim, an inheritance, too. There can be good reasons for doing so.