What are my options to cancel or settle a long‑pending real estate contract without tipping off the other side to my strategy? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, options to end or resolve a long-pending real estate contract tied to a decedent’s property usually fall into two buckets: (1) a negotiated release/settlement, or…
Can I file a petition to recover an estate asset like a car on my own, and what steps and forms are required in probate court? – North Carolina Short Answer Yes—under North Carolina law, a personal representative (executor/administrator) can file to recover estate property, and in some situations an “interested person” can start an…
Can I be reimbursed from the estate for funeral expenses I paid out of pocket? – North Carolina Short Answer Yes—under North Carolina law, reasonable funeral expenses are generally an obligation of the decedent’s estate, and a person who paid them can usually seek reimbursement as an estate claim. Funeral expenses receive a high payment…
If a will leaves most assets to a surviving spouse but gives one property to a stepchild, how is the out-of-state property transferred? – North Carolina Short Answer Under North Carolina probate practice, real estate is usually transferred under the law of the state where the land sits. So if a will gives a specific…
What happens to the deceased’s bank accounts during probate, and who is allowed to access them? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, a deceased person’s bank accounts are usually frozen once the bank or credit union learns of the death, and access typically shifts to the court-appointed personal representative (executor/administrator) after qualification. Accounts…
What can I do if the other estate is about to be closed in probate and I haven’t received the inheritance that was supposed to go to my deceased family member? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, the usual way to act fast is to get the probate file from the Clerk of…
If the settlement amount is unclear or changes, what should I do before paying? – North Carolina Short Answer Before paying a creditor settlement in a North Carolina estate, get the settlement terms in writing and make sure the amount, due dates, and what the payment resolves are clearly stated. If the amount is unclear…
When listing sold personal property in a small‑estate affidavit, should the purchaser be shown as the recipient instead of the personal representative? – North Carolina Short Answer Usually, no. In a North Carolina small-estate “collection by affidavit” process, the affidavit is designed to show what estate property was collected by the affiant (the collector) and…
What happens if neither of us opens probate—can the court treat that as a renunciation so I can be appointed? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, the court (through the Clerk of Superior Court) generally does not treat “nobody opened probate” as an automatic renunciation. Instead, renunciation is usually established either by a…
How can I prove a utility debt is paid if the company won’t send a satisfaction letter? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina estate administration, a “satisfaction letter” from a utility is helpful, but it is not the only way to prove a paid bill for final accounting purposes. A personal representative can…
