this blog is my life

Taika really said “superhero romance movie” and I am HERE FOR IT

multiverse of madness spoilers.

Natasha: That’s physically impossible

Clint, cupping Natasha’s face: Are you sure?

Natasha:

In fact, it is outright illegal to try and collect those debts from a person who didn’t cosign the loan and isn’t executing the will.

My great-grandmother had her identity stolen before she died at the age of 93, and thousands of charges were racked up on credit cards in her name. After she passed away, they called my mother to try and collect. My mom laughed at them, and told them: “She’s dead, good luck collecting.” The credit card asked my mother, “Don’t you want to clear your grandmother’s debts? Don’t you want to clear her good name?” My mom laughed at them again. “No,” she said. “Because a 90 year old wasn’t watching porn with those credit cards, and her name is fine. Don’t give credit cards to old women likely to pass away soon. This is on you.”

If a loved one of yours dies and bill collectors (credit cards, loans, etc etc) start calling you off the hook and request that you pay off their debts, tell them in no uncertain terms to go fuck themselves.

The reason being is that the moment you give them a single penny, that debt is now on YOU because you’ve now agreed to pay it off.

DO NOT EVER PAY OFF DEBTS THAT AREN’T YOUR OWN. 

DO NOT EVER PAY OFF DEBTS THAT AREN’T YOUR OWN. 

DO NOT EVER PAY OFF DEBTS THAT AREN’T YOUR OWN.

If someone DOES have enough assets for their estate to be probatable, there are a few ways to bypass a lot of that. Payable on death beneficiaries, living trusts, transferring deeds prior to death when it is expected, etc. Most of the time unsecured debt is a gamble the bank took (which is why it’s harder to get) and they’re stuck with it in death. But if the decedent had assets and they go through probate, the bank can move to have the debt paid from the estate. Which is where it comes in useful to have utilized your options to bypass probate altogether. 😇

HOWEVER, with secured debt (car loans and mortgages), they can and absolutely will repossess if that bill isn’t paid. So definitely pay that! If Grandpa took out a loan on the house before passing, Grandma (or any other co-owners not on the loan) will have had to sign documents to the effect of understanding that risk. Most of the time the bank will want the surviving owner(s) to refinance the loan into their own name, but also most of the time, if the bill is being paid they’re generally not going to kick up much of a fuss. If the mortgage or car payment can no longer be afforded, better to sell the property before you’re too far underwater.

I do recommend trying to work with small local banks and credit unions (especially credit unions!) when possible. They might be a little pickier about their standards for lending, but they’ll also be much more flexible about these things. The one I work for so very much does NOT want to foreclose or repossess they’ve only done it a handful of times in the last ten years, and one of those was a voluntary surrender following the owner’s death. It’s a huge hassle, and very expensive! We’d really rather not! So we’ll find a way to work with people.

Check out your state’s laws. If you have assets to protect, do what you can to protect them. Investigate wills vs trusts. Life interests. Payable on death beneficiaries. If you own your home free and clear, in many states you can transfer the deed to your children (or other family) while retaining the right to live there until your death with minimal cost.

It pays to plan for death. And it pays to plan for disability! Get yourself set up with a conditional power of attorney and advance directive so you have the right people helping you if you ever become unable to manage your own affairs.

promotional art for the film Thor: Love and Thunder offers the best look at the new costumes of Chris Hemsworth and Natalie Portman will wear.

Thor, wielding Stormbreaker after the destruction of Mjolnir in Thor: Ragnarok, has a new color scheme.