Do I need to open a full estate if the only issue is my grandparent’s interest in the house? – NC Short Answer Not always. In North Carolina, if the deed did not include survivorship language, the grandparent’s share of the house usually became a probate asset, but a full estate may not be necessary…
How do I clear title to a house after my grandparent passed away if we were both on the deed? – NC Short Answer In North Carolina, the answer usually depends on how the deed was written. If the deed named both owners but did not clearly create a right of survivorship, the law usually…
What happens if a deed lists two owners but does not include survivorship language when one owner dies? – NC Short Answer In North Carolina, a deed to two owners usually creates a tenancy in common unless the deed clearly says there is a right of survivorship. If one owner dies and the deed does…
Can a law firm request bank statements for an estate if the personal representative authorized it? – NC Short Answer Yes. In North Carolina, the personal representative is the person with authority to gather estate information and deal with financial institutions for estate administration. A law firm may request bank statements on the estate’s behalf…
Who is responsible for paying funeral bills and property-related expenses after someone dies? – NC Short Answer In North Carolina, funeral bills and other valid debts are usually paid from estate assets, not from heirs out of their own pockets just because they inherit. Property that passes by survivorship, such as many joint accounts, often…
How should money from the sale of estate real property be handled before it is distributed to heirs? – NC Short Answer In North Carolina, money from the sale of estate real property usually should not be treated like ordinary estate cash that can be freely spent or distributed right away. Before any heir receives…
Do I need to put my name on my surviving parent’s deed now, or can the house pass to me through the will later? – NC Short Answer Usually, no deed change is required now for a child to receive a North Carolina house later. If the surviving parent owns the home at death and…
How can I make it easier to handle my surviving parent’s home later if I expect them to become mentally incapacitated? – NC Short Answer In North Carolina, the usual way to make a future home transfer easier after a parent loses capacity is to sign a durable power of attorney while the parent still…
What amount is supposed to go in the increase or decrease section of an estate bond form? – NC Short Answer In North Carolina, the increase or decrease section on an estate bond form usually refers to the change in the bond amount, not the gross value of the estate property listed on the inventory.…
What happens if the clerk and the personal representative interpret the bond form differently? – NC Short Answer In North Carolina, the clerk of superior court controls probate bond approval, so a bond form does not become effective until the clerk accepts it. If the clerk and the personal representative read the form differently, the…
