Community Chat

[madzonie]

Very quick overview: A dear friend's fiance died suddenly @ 46 years of age. They lived together, along with her young son, but I'm not sure exactly how they handled things financially.

He left no will or trust, and the house they bought to move in together is in his name. The fiance has a 22 year old daughter who lives in another state. My friend ended up paying for all the things having to do with the cremation and arrangements. Her finances on her own will barely cover her own needs now.

My question is, since the fiance's estate will have to be probated and the daughter will probably be the only heir, should my friend consider submitting an invoice to the estate to be paid for all the costs she incurred to take care of the arrangements?

I know there are ethical, moral, legal and personal issues all mixed in here, but I'm just wondering from a strictly business-related standpoint if she could or should be reimbursed for the money she put out for the arrangements.

My sense tells me that IF she had plenty of money, she would not even think of trying to be repaid. My feeling is that since she stands to get nothing from the estate of the man she was going to marry later this year, she should not have to be responsible for his final arrangements. Am I way off base here?