Page 18 THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, December 13, 2024 BHRC | FROM PAGE 15 eleven state representative districts. The question was approved in all eleven districts with an average Yes vote of 64 percent. The ballot question specifically asked, “Shall the representative for this district be instructed to vote for legislation to create a single-payer system of universal health care that provides all Massachusetts residents with comprehensive health care coverage including the freedom to choose doctors and other health care professionals, facilities and services and eliminates the role of insurance companies in health care by creating an insurance trust fund that is publicly administered?” QUOTABLE QUOTES “As soon as we heard the news about Trump's election, it really sent huge shockwaves through immigrant communities. We heard in the days following the election just so much fear. People are afraid of what's coming. They're afraid, for some folks, that they could lose a status, that they could be at risk for being arSavvy Senior by Jim Miller What Happens to Your Debt When You Die? Dear Savvy Senior, Can my kids inherit my debt after I die? I have taken on a lot of credit card debt over the past 10 years or so, and I’m worried that my son and daughter will get stuck with it when I die. Indebted Senior Dear Indebted, In most cases when a person with debt dies, it’s their estate, not their kids, that is legally responsible. Here’s what you should know. Debt After Death When you die, your estate – which consists of the stuff you own while you’re alive (property, investments and cash) – will be responsible for paying your debts. If you don’t have enough cash to pay your debts, your kids will have to sell your assets and pay off your creditors with the proceeds. Whatever is left over is passed along to your heirs as dictated by the terms of your will, if you have one. If you don’t have a will, the intestacy laws of the state you reside in will determine how your estate will be distributed. If, however, you die broke, or there isn’t enough money left over to pay your “unsecured debts” – credit cards, medical bills, personal loans – then your estate is declared insolvent, and your creditors will have to eat the loss. “Secured debts” – loans attached to an asset such as a house or a car – are a different story. If you have a mortgage or car loan when you die, those monthly payments will need to be made by your estate or heirs, or the lender can seize the property. There are, however, a couple of exceptions that would make your kids legally responsible for your debt after you pass away. One is if your son and/or daughter is a joint holder on a credit card account that you owe on. And the other is if either one of them co-signed a loan with you. Spouses Beware If you’re married, these same debt inheritance rules apply to surviving spouses too, unless you live in a community property state, which includes Arizona, California, Idaho, Louisiana, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, Washington and Wisconsin. In these states, any debts that one spouse acquires after the start of a marriage belongs to the other spouse too. Therefore, spouses in community property states are usually responsible for their deceased spouses’ debts. Protected Assets If you have any IRAs, 401(k)s, brokerage accounts, life insurance policies or employer-based pension plans, these are assets that creditors usually cannot get access to. That’s because these accounts typically have designated beneficiaries, and the money goes directly to those people without passing through the estate. Settling the Estate You should also make your kids aware that if you die with debt, and you have no assets, settling your estate will be fairly simple. Your executor will need to send out letters to your creditors explaining the situation, including a copy of your death certificate, and that will probably take care of it. But your kids may still have to deal with aggressive debt collectors who try to guilt them into paying. If you have some assets, but not enough to pay all your debts, your state’s probate court has a distinct list of what bills get priority. The details vary by state, but generally estate administrating fees, funeral expenses, taxes and last illness medical bills get paid first, followed by secured debts and lastly, credit card debts. Need Legal Help? If you or your kids have questions or need legal assistance, contact a consumer law attorney or probate attorney. If you can’t afford a lawyer, go to LawHelp.org to search for free legal help in your area. Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior. org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book. rested, potentially detained, potentially deported and could be facing family separation. --- Elizabeth Sweet, executive director of the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition (MIRA), in an interview with the State House News Service. "Massachusetts residents have been kept in the dark about the conditions within emergency housing shelters for migrants. The shocking stories coming to light underscore just one reason why the Healey-Driscoll Administration needs to put an end to its open door policy welcoming migrants.” ---Mass GOP Chair Amy Carnevale on reports that Jon Fetherston, the former Director of a Massachusetts migrant shelter, has come forward as a whistleblower, exposing deeply disturbing and inhumane incidents within the state’s emergency shelter system. “The survey’s findings highlight just how prevalent speeding is, especially among drivers who take other risks behind the wheel. Enforcement, community outreach and education continue to be absolutely critical to curbing a wide range of risky driving behaviors and ultimately lowering the number of traffic crash fatalities in the U.S.” ---Mark Schieldrop, spokesperson for AAA, on its study that a higher proportion of American drivers admit to speeding, driving distracted and engaging in other risky behaviors than those who steadfastly follow the rules of the road. “The latest revenue numbers offer clear evidence that the ultra-wealthy are remaining in Massachusetts and paying more in state taxes. Because the ultra-rich are finally paying closer to their fair share of state taxes, Massachusetts can afford to invest in the well-educated workforce and reliable transportation system our economy depends on. Thanks to the voters who amended our Constitution to establish a fairer tax system, we can make Massachusetts more affordable for working families and start building an economy that works for everyone." --- Andrew Farnitano, spokesperson for the Raise Up Massachusetts coalition, which led the campaign to pass the 2022 ballot question which imposed an additional 4 percent income tax, in addition to the flat 5 percent one, on taxpayers’ earnings of more than $1 million annually. HOW LONG WAS LAST WEEK’S SESSION? Beacon Hill Roll Call tracks the length of time that the House and Senate were in session each week. Many legislators say that legislative sessions are only one aspect of the Legislature’s job and that a lot of important work is done outside of the House and Senate chambers. They note that their jobs also involve committee work, research, constituent work and other matters that are important to their districts. Critics say that the Legislature does not meet regularly or long enough to debate and vote in public view on the thousands of pieces of legislation that have been filed. They note that the infrequency and brief length of sessions are misguided and lead to irresponsible latenight sessions and a mad rush to act on dozens of bills in the days immediately preceding the end of an annual session. During the week of December 2-6, the House met for a total of two hours and 53 minutes 37 minutes and the Senate met for a total of two hours and 50 minutes. MonDec. 2 House11:02 a.m. to1:01p.m. Senate 11:01 a.m. to1:09p.m. Tues.Dec. 3 No House session No Senate session Wed. Dec. 4 No House session No Senate session Thurs. Dec. 5 House11:02 a.m. to 11:56a.m. Senate 11:13 a.m. to 11:55a.m. Fri.Dec.6 No House session No Senate session Bob Katzen welcomes feedback at bob@beaconhillrollcall.com Bob founded Beacon Hill Roll Call in 1975 and was inducted into the New England Newspaper and Press Association (NENPA) Hall of Fame in 2019.
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