Debts When Someone Dies: Who Has to Pay?

The basic rule: the estate pays

When someone dies, what they owned and what they owed becomes their estate. Citizens Advice explains that debts, such as a credit cardHow Credit Cards Work in the UKHow UK credit cards work: interest, APR, minimum payments, interest-free periods, fees, Section 75 protection and how to use a card without getting into debt.Read more →, fuel bills, rent or a mortgage, come out of the estate. The person dealing with this, the executor or administrator, is responsible for paying debts, expenses and fees from the estate's assets.

This means the money and property the person left are used first. Relatives do not have to find the money for debts just because they are related.

Are relatives responsible?

Generally, no. If the estate does not have enough to pay everything, Citizens Advice says creditorsHow to Deal with Creditors: Communication and NegotiationPractical advice on communicating with creditors, negotiating affordable repayments, and understanding your rights when dealing with the companies you owe.Read more → cannot recover the amount still owed from anyone else, including the person's surviving relatives. This is true even for close family and for someone who inherits.

There are exceptions, and they are the ones to watch for. You can be liable if you were a joint account holder, if you guaranteed the debt or if you lived in a property and the debt is for bills tied to that home.

Joint debts and shared home bills

If a debt was joint, such as a shared overdraftOverdrafts Explained: Costs, Rules and AlternativesHow UK overdrafts work: arranged and unarranged, how interest is charged, the effect on credit files, the risks and cheaper alternatives to borrowing.Read more → or a credit agreement in joint names, the debt can still be recovered from the surviving person. If you lived with the person who died, you may also still be liable for property-related costs such as council tax or water bills. Our guide to joint debts and your partner explains how joint liability works in more detail.

What the executor needs to do

If you are the executor or administrator, it is worth being careful. Citizens Advice says you should try to contact all of the person's creditors and place a notice on The Gazette website, as well as a notice in a local paper where the person lived or worked. These notices give creditors the chance to make a claimHow to Make an Insurance Claim and What to Do If It Is RejectedStep-by-step guide to making an insurance claim in the UK, what evidence to gather, what insurers must do, and how to complain to the Financial Ombudsman.Read more → against the estate.

This matters because of what can happen if you skip it. If creditors appear after the estate has been paid out, you might have to pay the rest of the debt with your own money. An executor is responsible for administering the estate correctly and may have to pay for mistakes.

Check for insurance that could pay off debts

Check whether the person had a policy that would pay off debts on death, such as payment protection insurance taken out with a loan, or life insuranceLife Insurance Explained: Types, Costs and Who Needs ItWhat life insurance is, term versus whole of life, level and decreasing cover, how much you may need, what affects the price and trusts, in plain English.Read more → linked to a mortgage. Cover like this can clear some or all of a debt. Our guide to life insurance explains how these policies work.

Mortgages

A mortgage is a debt secured on the home. Citizens Advice says the lender may require immediate repayment or ask the person who inherits to take over the mortgage. If the property is sold, the mortgage is paid from the sale. Life or mortgage protection policies may cover it. If you are struggling with mortgage payments, see mortgage arrears: what to do.

Funeral costs and getting money released

Funeral costs can be a worry when money is tied up. Citizens Advice says some banks will release money for funeral costs, probate fees and inheritance tax before probate is granted. Ask the bank what it needs from you.

If the estate cannot pay everything

If there is not enough money to cover debts, tax and expenses, Citizens Advice says to seek advice from a solicitor. The rules for an insolvent estate are complicated, and the order in which debts are paid matters. An executor who pays in the wrong order can be held responsible.

Looking after yourself

Dealing with money while grieving is hard, and there is no deadline for feeling ready. Take it a step at a time, ask for help from a trusted friend or relative, and use free advice services if letters from creditors arrive. You do not have to deal with calls or letters alone, and you can ask creditors to write to you rather than phone.

Who to tell, and what to keep

Keep a simple record of every letter, call and payment while you deal with the estate. Note the date, the name of the organisation and what was said. When you contact a creditor, tell them the person has died, ask them to put the account on hold and ask for a written statement of the balance. Keep copies of everything you send, because a clear paper trail protects you if a creditor later disputes what you were told or what has already been paid.

If you are being chased for a debt that was not yours

If a creditor or a debt collectorDebt Collection in the UK: What You Need to KnowUnderstand how debt collection works in the UK, what debt collectors can and cannot do, and how to protect yourself if you are being chased for a debt.Read more → contacts you about a relative's debt, do not pay out of your own money unless you are sure you are liable. Tell them the person has died, ask them to explain in writing why they think you are responsible, and get free advice before you reply. Our list of debt helplines shows where to call, and how to deal with creditors explains how to respond.

If you are being chased by someone who is not entitled to the money, you do not have to pay. If you are not sure, a free adviser can check your position. We checked the phone numbers and opening hours in this guide against each organisation's own website on 20 October 2026. Hours change, especially around bank holidays, so check the website before you call.