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What can I do to get back money from a contractor who died. I gave him 55k the completed work was worth 27k .

Iam the home owner , I had a contract with a contractor for a job total of 85k, the contractor was given 55k and then he died . The work that was completed was estimated to be worth 27k . How do I go about getting the 28k I am owed for work not completed ?

1 reply

Jun 9, 2020

To recover funds you've paid to a contractor who's since passed away, you'd need to contact their estate. And, before doing so, it'd likely be wise to have all the relevant ducks in a row - documentation showing what the contractor was paid, what they had earned, and anything else that might strengthen the claim. It's possible that the estate may be willing to pay back the excess amount. However, it's extremely common (if not expected) for the estate to be skeptical of creditors coming out of the woodwork - and that's an understandable position. So, if you'll be looking to recover payment, understand that it might take some work. Utilizing a Pennsylvania attorney to help recover the debt would add a level of professionalism, show that the claim isn't bogus, and put pressure on the estate to pay what's owed before legal claims become necessary. They can send the estate a bill, and they could follow up with something more serious -like a demand letter - if necessary. Plus, if the estate doesn't cooperate, an attorney's help would likely be needed to aid in recovery, anyway. So, it might be wise to consult an attorney when looking to recover overpayment from a contractor's estate.

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