The facts are distressing but undeniable: many of us are entering retirement less financially prepared than retirees of previous generations. We haven’t saved enough, our pensions are non-existent, we’ve taken on student loans and other debt obligations, and we can’t cover our health care expenses. The entire outlook for many of us is bleak, as this Wall Street Journal article so starkly details (paywall).

In fact, according to a recent Nasdaq article, debt among those 65 and older has increased 48% between 2003-2015, and part of that is skyrocketing student loan debt. The question then becomes, if a retiree is saddled with debt, can he or she ever hope to pay off that debt and if not, who’s then responsible?

A recent article in Aging Care makes clear that unless you’ve co-signed a debt or jointly taken out a loan, you are likely not responsible for your parent’s debt. But that doesn’t mean you can ignore the burden, especially if it seems as though your parents are living beyond their means or you’re concerned they’ve been swindled in some way. Consumer Reports has some advice about talking finances with your aging parents to find out what’s going on. And should your parents pass away before a debt has been paid off, be aware, and be prepared, that debt collectors may come calling even if, as an heir, you’re not responsible for what is now the estate’s debt. To find out more about what an estate, surviving spouse or heir might be responsible for, Read Here. You’ll probably want legal counsel to help you sort through the details, but better to be wise than to be tricked into paying what in fact you don’t owe.