If your wife and her brothers and sisters inherit your father-in-law's estate, they are only responsible for paying off your father-in-law's debts within the share of the estate, unless they voluntarily continue to pay off outside the share. According to Article 33 of the Inheritance Law

Before this, I only pay interest. 1993 there was a reminder, but it was gone.

If the dunning has been refused, the other party will no longer claim the right within 2 years from the date of refusal, and the limitation of action will pass. The consequence is that the other party will not win even if it files a lawsuit. According to Article 135 of the General Principles of Civil Law.

Therefore, whether it is necessary to pay back the money depends first on whether the dunning was rejected. If it is rejected, then after two years, the other party does not claim the right, so there is no need to return it; If there is no refusal, then it depends on the inheritance of the father-in-law. If there is inheritance, it will only be returned within the scope of inheritance, and if there is no inheritance, it will not be returned.

Please compare the above two points to determine whether repayment is required.

I hope it helps you!

Supplement:

1. My father-in-law has no economic legacy, only a few plots of land! His son must inherit!

Since there is no money, you don't have to pay back even if you are in debt. As for land, if it is state-owned land, it may be executed to pay debts. If it is a contracted land or homestead, you don't have to return it.

After the reminder came, he didn't return it. Did he refuse it?

As long as you don't continue to pay back the money or interest after the dunning, it doesn't mean that you want to pay back the money, which is regarded as implied refusal or refusal by actual behavior. Then the other party loses the right to win the case if it does not file a lawsuit within 2 years, and even if it files a lawsuit, it is impossible to win the case.

A few hundred dollars 20 years ago is now tens of thousands, which is beyond the affordability of my father-in-law's family.

Please note that the in-laws only refer to the in-laws and the people who form a family with them. As for separated sons and married daughters, they do not legally belong to their father-in-law's family, and they do not need to bear the responsibility of paying off. Unless they inherit their father-in-law's estate, they need to be paid off within the scope of inheritance.

According to your supplement, we can basically determine the course of the limitation of action now, and we don't have to pay this debt. Please don't worry too much. Blessing again!