If the property gets ordered sold by the court, will it go to an auction or can it still be sold directly to an interested buyer like me? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, a court-ordered partition sale can be handled either as a public sale (an auction) or as a private sale…
If one of the heirs has a lien or judgment, can the property still be sold, and does that come out of everyone’s share or only that person’s share? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, inherited or co-owned property can usually still be sold in a partition case even if one heir has…
Can I get my earnest money back if an heir lawsuit stops the closing on a property I’m under contract to buy? – North Carolina Short Answer Often, yes—if the contract makes the seller responsible for delivering marketable title and the heir lawsuit creates a title defect that cannot be cured by the closing date,…
What is the hearing for if the court has already entered an order confirming the property sale? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, a hearing can still be needed after an order confirming a court-ordered sale because “confirmation” is not always the last step before closing. Depending on the type of sale and…
Do I need to pay for a survey to try to get the court to order a sale, and what if the survey doesn’t help my case? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, a survey is not automatically required to ask for a partition sale, but it is often one of the most…
What can I do if family members have an interest in the land but I believe they have no right to the house on it? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, a house built on land is usually treated as part of the real property, meaning it generally follows the ownership of the…
Can the court order the home to be sold even if one co-owner wants to keep living there? – North Carolina Short Answer Yes. In North Carolina, a co-owner generally cannot be forced to stay in co-ownership if that co-owner objects, and a partition case can end with the court ordering the property sold. Whether…
Do we still need to appear at a hearing when the sale is pending closing but not finalized yet? – North Carolina Short Answer Often, yes. In a North Carolina partition-by-sale case, the court (usually the Clerk of Superior Court) may still schedule a hearing after an order confirming the sale because the case is…
How do I respond to a partition summons and what happens at the first court hearing? – North Carolina Short Answer In a North Carolina partition case, a respondent generally must file a written response (an “answer” or another permitted pleading) within 30 days after service of the summons in a partition proceeding. If no…
Can I be named in a partition case if my name is not on the deed or mortgage? – North Carolina Short Answer Yes, it can happen, but being named does not automatically mean there is legal ownership. In North Carolina, a partition case is primarily about dividing or selling property owned by cotenants (people…
