“My mother is 86 years old and lives with me in my home. Am I responsible for any of her debts such as credit cards or line of credit at her bank? The only thing I am on is her checking account with her.”

Generally speaking, unless you have specifically agreed to assume her debts, or have assumed some more specific form of guardianship or other decision-making responsibility for her, you will likely not be held responsible for her debts. Creditors may be able to go after assets that you hold jointly with her, such as the checking account, and if it came down to a legal battle or a bankruptcy, the court may allow them to investigate your finances to see if she had transferred any money to you to avoid being attached. If there is a chance that your mother is facing any kind of bankruptcy situation, you should help her locate a bankruptcy attorney as soon as possible; the longer you wait, the fewer options she may have for avoiding legal difficulties.

If you have credit problems, or are wondering whether bankruptcy is the right option for you, just fill out the form below to schedule a confidential FREE consultation with a debt and bankruptcy attorney in your area! A local debt and bankruptcy attorney can answer your questions and explain your options and the bankruptcy process to you. Don’t delay! Time wasted can have a serious impact on the outcome of a bad credit situation!