How do we handle retirement funds that list the estate as the beneficiary, and will taxes need to be withheld or returns filed? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, when a retirement account names the estate as beneficiary, the personal representative (administrator) typically collects the funds into the estate and reports them in…
What can I do if the bank keeps transferring me and no department will confirm where to send an estate request? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, the most effective way to stop the “transfer loop” is to switch from phone calls to a written, trackable request sent to the bank’s legal/estate processing…
What happens if we miss the early payoff window and pay after that period expires? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, if an inheritance-advance agreement offers an “early pay rebate” only for payments made within a stated window, paying after that window usually means the rebate no longer applies and the payoff amount…
Can I request another early distribution from the estate while the probate case is still ongoing? – North Carolina Short Answer Sometimes. In North Carolina, an estate can often make more than one interim (early) distribution while probate is still open, but only if the personal representative can do it safely after accounting for known…
Do joint bank accounts need to be included on the probate inventory, and what happens if funeral expenses were paid from a joint account? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, a true joint account with right of survivorship usually passes to the surviving co-owner outside of probate, so it is often not listed…
How can I force the trustee to provide a full accounting, tax filings, and copies of property sale documents? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, a qualified trust beneficiary can usually force a trustee to produce a proper accounting and supporting records by filing a trust proceeding with the Clerk of Superior Court.…
What happens if the executor didn’t pay the mortgage or taxes and the property went into foreclosure after the death? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, a foreclosure can still move forward after the owner’s death if the mortgage or property taxes are not kept current. If the foreclosure sale produces extra money…
How do I get relatives to sign the estate paperwork if they’re hard to reach or don’t understand what they’re signing? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, relatives often do not have to sign “estate paperwork” for the Clerk of Superior Court to open an estate and issue court letters. Many signatures that…
Do I need proof that the Medicaid case was closed, and what documents should I keep for the estate? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, there is no single, universal “Medicaid case closed” document that must be filed with the court to administer an estate. What matters is confirming whether North Carolina Medicaid…
How do I handle a deceased parent’s car loan when the car is still at my house and no estate has been opened? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, a deceased parent’s car loan does not automatically become a child’s personal debt, but the lender’s lien usually stays attached to the vehicle. If…
