Deceased Parents Debt Responsibility

In Indiana, an adult child is generally not responsible for a deceased parent's debts. However, the debt might affect the estate left behind. If there's a will, the executor handles these matters.
- Debts are paid from the estate before any inheritance is distributed.
- If the estate can't cover all debts, they're often written off.
- In some cases, joint accounts or co-signed debts could be an exception.

An estate generally includes:
- Real property like houses or land.
- Personal property like cars, furniture, or jewelry.
- Financial assets like bank accounts, investments, or retirement funds.
- Life insurance policies, if not designated to a specific beneficiary.
- Any debts owed to the deceased person.

Given the details you've shared, it seems you're concerned about how joint accounts and life insurance policies are treated when settling debts. Is that correct? If so, these are generally the rules in Indiana:
- Joint bank accounts usually pass directly to the surviving account holder.
- Life insurance proceeds go directly to the named beneficiaries, outside of the probate process.

In Indiana, money in a joint account or from a life insurance policy with a named beneficiary generally won't be used to settle the deceased's debts. These pass directly to the surviving account holder or beneficiary, outside the probate process.

Based on the information you provided:
- You're not responsible for your deceased parent's credit card debt.
- The joint bank account and life insurance policy, where you're the beneficiary, are typically not used to settle their debts in Indiana.

You're welcome, Lynne! If you have any more questions in the future, don't hesitate to ask. Remember, it's always a good idea to consult with a local attorney for specific legal advice.