They take up a lot of space. My older sister is in nursing home after a stroke. All her income is now the nursing home's. She had sooo much credit and the bills keep coming. I know I am not responsible for them, but I don't know if I need to keep them in a file or something. I already have so much of her possessions in my house and now all these bills piling up.
I would definitely save the bills, (even if there are no funds to pay them), not contact the creditors until they contact your sister by mail (never answer calls when the number is unknown), and when you do respond only in writing,, make sure that you understand your sister's rights under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.
If you do accidentally answer a call for her, don't reveal anything, including your name or relationship, unless the caller reveals his/her identity first. Be prepared for obfuscation; they try to avoid giving out information on who they are or the purpose of the call. Typically they'll indicate they can only speak to your sister. That's a giveaway right there.
When you get creditor letters, and eventually you will, respond in writing only, using a post office box and not your own address, and respond within 30 days of (a) postmark date or (b) your receipt. I hedge on this b/c I haven't read the FDCPA recently, and I don't recall which is the starting point for the running of the 30 day response period.
Send the responses by certified mail, with the return receipt address the PO box you've rented. Obviously keep a copy of the letters you send.
You can either just state that your sister has no funds b/c of her medical condition, or add that she is "judgment proof."
In the meantime, better take inventory of all her assets and make sure they are in fact judgment proof, going to the SNF or the type of facility she's in, and that there isn't anything that can be subject to collection efforts or is lienable.
Did she have a home? Is it subject to a Medicaid lien, or has it been sold? Does she have vehicles? Any pension or other financial assets?
Anticipate that even if you state she's judgment proof, collection agencies may still try to harass you. That's why you NEVER give out your own address, your sister's address at the facility, or phone numbers for any of you or your family.
And even if the bills take up a lot of space, box them up if you have to after inventorying them, and store them in an attic or basement. You never know when you'll need to refer to them, especially if some agency does a family check and discovers you're her sister, and starts sending bills to you directly. You may eventually have to keep them from harassing you. And you never know what some of these shysters will try to do.
The real problem is that if you don't get this resolved then you may be plagued by bill collectors for years to come, even after she has passed on. It might be worth while to seek legal advice and have the debt formally written off or at least have your contact information removed.
GOOD LUCK
Hope your sisters health improves.
You don't say how much the bills are, but, in some states, creditors can step in and file at probate time to get their money owed. I'd figure out what might happen, so no surprises.
When I was bothered by a bank wanting to speak with my deceased Mother, I told them the Cemetery she was in and said "knock yourself out." That was the last call I received.
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