MY brother has just been made bankrupt and he is concerned that I won’t give him the share of our mother's estate dues to him under the will when mum dies.

I have been reading some of the responsibilities I have as an executor and I have discovered that if I allow a bankrupt person to receive money from a will I would be liable for their debts.

The correct analysis is that if someone is bankrupt and inherits or is entitled to receive money during bankruptcy, then it must go to his or her trustee in sequestration, who is the person who legally owns their property and money, if any. Any diversion to the bankrupt person can be challenged by the trustee, and if the money can’t be recovered you may be liable. You are best to correspond with your brother’s trustee direct, but of course check when the bankruptcy is due to end, as unless your mum is near death, the sequestration may already be discharged before the bequest is due.

I PAID the deposit on a suite from a company that has gone into liquidation and have not received delivery. I got a letter from liquidators. Can I take them to court to get the suite or a refund?

Sadly, unlike administration, liquidation usually means that all bets are off for ordinary creditors, which is what you are, and the liquidators cannot be responsible for the debts or obligation of the company if there are no assets to meet them. I recommend that anyone buying anything of value tries to insist that deposits are held in a separate bank account or held over until delivery is assured.

MY partner passed away a few weeks ago. He had a car he was paying through a finance company. I have written to the company and shown them the death certificate. They are insisting that I sell the car and pay them the money. But I don’t think if I sold it I would get enough to pay them the sum due. I expected the company just to pick up the car and take it, and leave me alone.

You have no personal liability to the debt nor to any work to be done for the finance people. And as executor all you need to do is inform them of where the car is. So I am tempted to say to you that all you need to do is send them the keys. However, in case there is something you are missing out, get them to put in writing what they require of you and the legal basis for it.

I WON a few hundred pound playing poker with a group of friends. Most have paid up but one friend owes me £150 and keeps giving excuses and putting me off. Can I take him to the small claims court?

No. gambling debts are not enforceable at court. suggest you give him the cold shoulder and let the others know what he has done. This sort of thing is called a debt of honour and does what it says on the tin. Or not, in this case.