Life Goes On, The Caregiver

 originally published by AARP Magazine What Happens to Your Debts After You Die? When loved ones pass away there's way too much to handle in a short time: notifying others despite feelings of intense grief; funeral arrangements; living without the departed individual; keeping or dispensing with their possessions; a potential change in income and other financial matters. And this is a just  partial list . There's also the matter of the debts the person left behind, which raises a flurry of questions. Will they be forgiven somehow? If not, how are they to be paid? What if the liabilities exceed the assets? Who is responsible for them, and under what conditions? Will debt collectors come calling? It's complicated but not insurmountable. ( read the full article ) 1. The estate should cover most bills A person's financial obligations are not automatically forgiven once they've died. According to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, in most cases, any unpaid debts ar...

I road as a (volunteer) N.Y.S. Emergency Medical Technician for nearly 30-years. I dealt with all kinds of emergencies, all ages, and a variety of outcomes (both good and bad). I would have thought I would be fully "professional" when it came to my own husband's stroke... Instead I barely held it together. I was fortunate that I was able to lean on our daughter, son and daughter-in-law (all with EMS experience themselves, but they too were filled with emotions). We were all so fortunate that despite what seemed so frightening that first night, my husband did survive and, just like he has been for the better part of his life, he was determined NOT to be beaten. The two months that he was hospitalized are still a bit of a blur. I remember doing most of the things I had to do like housekeeping, grocery shopping, paying bills and the small amount of work I HAD to get done (thankfully I had understanding editors and a compassionate publisher). And at least six days a week ...