Can a deceased person's debts be discharged in an intestate estate?

Yes, generally speaking, a deceased person’s debts can be discharged in an intestate estate in Massachusetts. Intestate estates are estates where the deceased person did not have a valid will and so their assets are distributed according to the laws of intestate succession. In most cases, these laws will prioritize the family members of the deceased person in the distribution of assets. However, before any assets are distributed, the estate must first be used to pay off any debts that the deceased person had. In Massachusetts, the executor of the estate must collect all of the assets of the deceased person and use them to pay off any outstanding debts. This helps protect creditors from not being paid back and the estate from being overburdened by outstanding debts. Once the debts are paid, then the remaining assets can be distributed according to the laws of intestate succession.

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