How can I change who inherits my annuity after I get married? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, annuities pass to the person named on the beneficiary form, not under your will. Marriage does not automatically change that designation. To change who inherits, contact your annuity company and submit its change-of-beneficiary form; the…
How can I add my parent’s spouse to their property deed in North Carolina? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, you add a spouse to a deed by having the current owner sign and record a new deed that conveys the property from the owner to the owner and spouse together. The cleanest…
What steps do I need to take to prepare a will for my parent? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, your parent must sign a written will in the presence of two competent witnesses, who also sign in your parent’s presence. A notary is not required for a valid will, but adding a…
How will a Veterans Affairs benefits issue affect my parent’s probate and my inheritance? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, many Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits are paid directly to eligible survivors and do not pass through probate, so they do not change who inherits under a will. If the VA owes money to…
How can I transfer my property now so it passes directly to my grandchildren without probate? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, the two common ways to pass real estate to your grandchildren without probate are: (1) record a deed now that reserves a life estate for you and gives the remainder to…
What’s the best way to protect a minor grandchild’s inheritance from their parents until a specific age? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, the most reliable way is to leave the minor grandchild’s share in a trust, not outright. A revocable living trust funded now with the real estate lets you reserve a…
Can I structure the deed to keep survivorship rights while I’m alive and then pass title to two grandchildren? – North Carolina Short Answer Yes. In North Carolina, you can sign and record a deed that keeps a life estate for yourself and gives the remainder to your two grandchildren so the property passes at…
How do I set age-based distribution requirements in a trust for my grandchildren’s share of real estate? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, you can place your real estate in a revocable living trust, keep the right to live there for life, and require that your grandchildren receive or control their shares only…
Do I need a trust or will to prevent my beneficiaries from selling the land before they both agree or meet conditions? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, a revocable living trust is the most reliable way to keep land from being sold until your beneficiaries both agree or reach set ages, while…
Which power of attorney documents do I need for both financial and medical decisions in North Carolina? Short Answer In North Carolina, you typically need two separate documents: (1) a durable financial power of attorney for money, property, and legal matters, and (2) a health care power of attorney for medical decisions. Most people also…