QUESTION
My sister, the Personal Representative, got the Life Insurance, do I have to pay her back funeral costs?
Asked on Dec 29th, 2018 on Estate Planning - Washington
More details to this question:
My sister is wanting back funeral costs even though she paid it out of the life insurance. All I know is my father had a life insurance policy, and I still don’t know how much it was. My sister was named, the beneficiary. I didn’t get to challenge executor because I lived with 3 roommates and I didn’t get the paperwork until it was too late. She didn’t get awarded personal representative until a few months after receiving the life insurance check. Should I fight having to pay her back?
1 ANSWER
2 Awards
The beneficiary of a life insurance policy can spend it however she likes. She is not obligated to pay for the funeral.
Ordinarily the estate is responsible for the funeral costs. If someone advances them, she can file a claim against the estate.
Being a relative does not make you financially responsible. However, if your were a beneficiary under a Will and received a distribution before the funeral was paid for, the executor may need to claw back some of the distribution to pay for the funeral.
Answered on Dec 30th, 2018 at 5:26 AM
This is general information. It cannot substitute for a personal consultation with an attorney. It is not intended to be legal advice or imply an attorney-client relationship.