Ruling on Removing Gold Teeth from a Deceased Person

Q: If a person dies and has gold teeth, should they be removed if he has a debt, even if removing them is not easy? Or should they be left in place if he has no debt?

A: If a person dies and has gold or silver teeth, and removing them is not easy, there is no harm in leaving them in place, whether he was in debt or not. It is possible to exhume him after some time and take them for the heirs or to pay the debt. However, if removing them is easy, it is obligatory to do so, because they are wealth that should not be wasted when one is able to preserve it.