Should I record an affidavit of heirship before starting a partition action? – North Carolina Short Answer Usually, no. In North Carolina, a partition case can move forward even if some co-owners are deceased, unknown, or there is a dispute about who owns a particular share. An affidavit of heirship can still be useful as…
What happens if the court orders a partition by sale even though I object? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, if the court orders a partition by sale over an objection, the property will be sold under court supervision and the co-owners will receive their shares of the net proceeds instead of receiving…
If we pay to build an access or fire road needed for a division, can we later recover the other owners’ share of those costs? – North Carolina Short Answer Often, yes—but timing and proof matter. In a North Carolina partition case, a co-owner can ask the court for “contribution” for certain costs, including qualifying…
Does the parent’s will or the estate process affect who has authority to pursue the partition case or sell the house? – North Carolina Short Answer Yes. In North Carolina, the parent’s will and the status of the estate administration can change who has authority to sell the home and who should bring (or pause)…
How do I coordinate with the other side about the upcoming partition hearing and what needs to be filed beforehand? – North Carolina Short Answer In a North Carolina partition case, coordination usually means confirming what the hearing is about (for example, confirming a commissioners’ report or confirming a sale) and making sure any required…
How can we sell a co-owned inherited home quickly to avoid foreclosure when one co-owner is slow to agree on price changes? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, the fastest way to keep a co-owned inherited home moving toward a sale—when one co-owner will not agree to needed price changes—is usually to keep…
What happens to a house that sits on estate land when one heir claims the house is theirs but the heirs believe it belongs to everyone? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, a house is usually treated as part of the real property (the land) unless a valid deed or other valid title…
What rights do I have if I’m paying the ongoing costs on a vehicle that someone else wants to sell? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, a co-owner generally cannot sell a jointly owned vehicle as if it is solely theirs, but a co-owner can usually force a court-supervised sale of jointly owned…
If the properties have homes or other buildings on them, does that make it more likely the court will order a sale instead of dividing the land? – North Carolina Short Answer Sometimes. In North Carolina, the court can order a sale (instead of physically dividing the land) only if dividing the property “in kind”…
What happens if the hearing location changes after I’ve already served the notice of hearing? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, if the court changes the hearing location (for example, a different courtroom, room number, or courthouse), the safest approach is to promptly send a written amended notice to all parties with the…
