How does sheriff service work, and can someone still be served if they say they don’t want the papers? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, a sheriff’s deputy (or other authorized process server) usually serves a civil summons by personally delivering the summons and complaint, or by leaving them at the person’s home…
How can I force the sale of a house I co-own if the other owner refuses to sign the listing agreement? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, a co-owner who cannot get the other owner to cooperate with listing the home can usually ask the court to order a partition sale. A partition…
What are the next steps after an order confirming the sale in a property-sale case? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina partition-by-sale cases, an order confirming the sale is a major milestone, but it is not always the last step before closing. After confirmation, there is typically a short “finality” period, then the…
How do we figure out the land’s value so we can negotiate a buyout or settlement instead of going through a partition sale? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, the most settlement-friendly way to value inherited co-owned land is usually a written opinion from a licensed real estate appraiser, supported by recent comparable…
If we agree on a buyout number, can we finalize it without going to court, and what paperwork is needed to transfer my interest? – North Carolina Short Answer Yes. In North Carolina, co-owners can usually complete a voluntary buyout without filing a partition case, as long as everyone signs a written agreement and the…
What happens to my contract to buy the property if the heirs have to go through a partition case first? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, if the current owners are heirs who cannot deliver clear, marketable title because the property must be resolved through a partition case first, the purchase contract often…
What does it mean when someone is marked as served in a property co-ownership court case? – North Carolina Short Answer In a North Carolina partition (co-ownership) case, “served” usually means the court file shows that a co-owner was formally given the summons and petition (or received them by an approved method), so the court…
If one co-owner has been paying the mortgage, can they make me personally pay them back just because I lived there during the marriage? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, a co-owner who paid the mortgage can usually ask for reimbursement (called “contribution”) in a partition case, but that is typically handled as…
How can I find out what the heir lawsuit is actually about and whether it affects my purchase contract? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, the fastest way to learn what an “heir lawsuit” is about is to pull the court file and the recorded land records tied to the case—especially any notice…
If my parent’s money paid to build the house, can I claim the house as my inheritance even though the land deed lists other family members? – North Carolina Short Answer Usually not by inheritance alone. In North Carolina, a house built on land is generally treated as part of the real estate, so ownership…
