Money & accounts
Pay valid debts and reject improper claims
Estate debts are paid from estate assets — not from your money. Pay valid claims in the order your state's law requires.
- When to do it
- After the creditor-claim window has run.
- Estimated time
- Spread over the administration
What you’ll need
- List of claims received
- Estate bank account
- State's priority of payment rules
Steps
- Review each claim. Confirm validity with documentation.
- Pay funeral expenses, taxes, and administration costs first (priority varies by state).
- Pay other valid claims in priority order.
- If the estate is insolvent, do not personally guarantee any debt — talk to the estate's attorney.
- Document every payment from the estate account.
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Related tasks
- Notify the Social Security AdministrationIf the decedent was receiving Social Security, the funeral home usually reports the death. Confirm — and stop benefits to avoid clawbacks.
- Notify banks, brokerages, and retirement accountsEach financial institution has its own death notification process. Some assets pass to a beneficiary directly; others must go through probate.
- Open an estate bank accountYou'll need a dedicated account in the estate's name to receive incoming funds and pay debts. Don't commingle with personal money.