Can my sister’s creditors come after me, my husband, or our house to satisfy her debts?
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Can my sister’s creditors come after me, my husband, or our house to satisfy her debts?
My 29 year old sister has been living in my home rent free for the past 8 months. She has some outstanding credit card debt and medical bill debt. Creditors have been trying to collect as of late. Could her creditors come after me my husband or our house to satisfy her debts?
Asked on December 30, 2011 under Bankruptcy Law, New York
Answers:
FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 12 years ago | Contributor
There is always the possibility that your sister's creditors could seek payment from you or your husband for payment of your sister's debts. However, from a legal perspective, neither you nor your husband are legally liable to pay debts of your sister to creditors if you never signed a written agreement to do so.
That is the law in all states in this country. If your sister is working and living in your home rent free, she should start trying to pay off her creditors in an agreeable monthly amount set forth in a written document signed by her and a representative of the given creditor.
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