THE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2024 Page 19 education teacher for fifthand sixth-grade students at the Oliver Hazard Perry School in South Boston, is the 2025 Massachusetts Teacher of the Year. The Massachusetts Teacher of the Year is the state’s top award for educators and annually recognizes excellence in teaching across Massachusetts through the selection of a teacher who exemplifi es the dedication, commitment and positive contributions of educators statewide. The award is sponsored by Wellpoint, a Woburn-based health benefi ts company which is giving a $10,000 grant to Sparrow’s school. “My mom was a school nurse and my stepdad was a public school teacher, so I have a deep appreciation for the incredible work that our educators and staff do day in and day out for their students,” said Gov. Healey. “It was so special to have the opportunity to congratulate and celebrate Ms. Sparrow today for her commitment to creating an inclusive learning environment that helps all of her students grow and succeed together.” “Ms. Sparrow is an example of the exceptional educators we have in Massachusetts who go above and beyond to support all of their students and foster an inclusive learning environment,” said Education Secretary Patrick Tutwiler. “It’s a pleasure to celebrate with her, her dedicated team, students and school community today.” “My students, just like all others with signifi cant disabilities, deserve the opportunity to learn alongside their neurotypical peers not because they are able?do many of the same tasks, but simply because everyone deserves a chance to belong,” Sparrow said upon accepting the award. UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE — The Massachusetts Campaign for Single Payer Health Care (Mass-Care) announced the offi cial results of its Question 6 (or 7), depending on the district, which was on the November ballot in 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 - LEGAL NOTICE - Estate of: Also Known A Date of Death: To all persons interested in the above captioned estate, by Petition of Petitioner of of has been informally appointed as the Personal Representative of the estate to serve on the bond. 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 arrested, 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. BEACON | SEE Page 20 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 diff erent 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 benefi ciaries, 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 certifi cate, 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 fi rst, 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 aff ord 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.
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