Is my mother bound to service contracts signed by my deceased father?
My father recently passed away and his rental properties passed into my care. My elderly mother is now the sole owner of the rental property. I manage it for her as she is not able to. Four years before my father passed away he signed an agreement to have waste service solely with one company. However the company has tripled the price over fair market competitors. She is no longer able to afford their high fees. We would like to quit their services and use a new provider. But the company says we are bound to their service agreement and cannot quit. And if we were to sell the property that the new owners would be bound to use their services. Are we legally bound to my fathers contract now that he has passed? No one was aware of this contract till after his death. He was the only one to sign.
Expert Answer
The answer to this question depends entirely on the specific terms of the contract - so I can't answer it in general. You will need to find a local attorney who is experienced in contract disputes, and show the contract to that attorney for advice. Typically contracts continue in force even upon the death of the signatory, and "bind" the heirs of the signatory - but every contract has provisions for termination. Those are the terms that will answer your question!