What happens when a deceased parent had a loan with another relative as a co-borrower? – NC Short Answer In North Carolina, a co-borrower usually remains responsible for the loan after the other borrower dies because the debt does not disappear at death. The deceased parent’s estate may also owe some or all of the…
Can I be personally responsible for a deceased parent’s loan if I never signed it? – NC Short Answer Usually no. In North Carolina, a deceased parent’s loan is generally a debt of the estate, not a personal debt of the executor, personal representative, or adult child who never signed the loan agreement. Personal responsibility…
Do I have to go to court if I get paperwork that says appear in an estate case? – NC Short Answer Not always. In North Carolina estate matters, many routine probate steps happen through the Clerk of Superior Court, and a paper filed in the estate does not automatically mean the personal representative must…
What does a notice of appearance mean in a probate case? – NC Short Answer In a North Carolina probate case, a notice of appearance usually means a lawyer or party is formally telling the court that they are participating in the estate matter and want to receive notices and filings. It does not automatically…
How should an executor handle questions about payments taken from a deceased person’s bank account before and after death? – NC Short Answer In North Carolina, an executor should first identify what payments left the account, when they were taken, and whether they were authorized by the account contract or by law. Payments made before…
How is a brokerage account valued in probate if the account keeps going up and down after a parent passes away? – NC Short Answer In North Carolina probate, a brokerage account is generally listed on the estate inventory at its fair market value on the date of death, not at whatever the market does…
How is a probate bond amount calculated for an estate with financial accounts and personal property? – NC Short Answer In North Carolina, a probate bond for an administrator is usually based on the value of the decedent’s personal property that will pass through the estate, not the value of real estate. If a corporate…
How do I handle creditor claims in probate before distributing money to heirs? – NC Short Answer In North Carolina, an estate should not distribute money to heirs until the personal representative has identified estate assets, given notice to creditors, reviewed claims, and paid valid debts in the proper order. The estate inventory generally uses…
How can I find out whether Social Security owes money to a deceased person’s estate? – NC Short Answer In North Carolina, the usual way to find out whether Social Security shows an overpayment, underpayment, or other balance tied to a deceased person is to have the estate’s personal representative contact the Social Security Administration…
How do I handle Social Security benefits issues while administering a deceased person’s estate? – NC Short Answer In North Carolina, Social Security benefit issues after death usually turn on two questions: whether the Social Security Administration paid too much after death, or whether it still owes a final underpayment. The estate’s personal representative often…
