Final answer:
The responsibility of a surviving spouse for a deceased's medical bills depends on the specific state's law. In 'common law' states like NY, NJ, PA, CT, SC, IL, and MA, a spouse may not be liable for the other's debt unless it was for necessary items. On the contrary, in 'community property' states like NC, LA, DC, both spouses may be liable for marital debts.
Step-by-step explanation:
Whether a surviving spouse is responsible for the deceased's medical bills primarily depends on the state's law where they resided when the debt was incurred. In some states such as NY, NJ, PA, CT, SC, IL, and MA, they follow the 'common law' system, where a spouse is usually not directly liable for the other's debt unless the debt was for necessary items like healthcare, and even so, it depends on the specifics of the situation.
On the other hand, NC, LA, and DC apply the 'community property' law, where both spouses are typically equally responsible for debts acquired during the marriage. And so, a spouse might be responsible for the deceased's medical bills.
For RI, the laws are a bit mixed and it largely depends on the specifics. Therefore, it always best to consult with an attorney to understand the legal obligations in a specific case.
Learn more about Surviving Spouse's Debt