What remedies exist to recover money my sister admitted taking for our mother’s benefit? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, recovery usually depends on whether the money was taken before the parent died (a claim that belongs to the parent’s estate) or was taken/kept after death (a claim tied to estate administration). Common…
How can I obtain the formal bank statement showing my estate account has a zero balance? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, a personal representative usually closes an estate bank account by requesting a final bank statement (or letter on bank letterhead) that shows the ending balance is $0.00 and the account is…
How do I confirm whether the life estate has terminated under the will’s terms? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, a life estate usually ends when the life tenant dies unless the will clearly sets an earlier ending event (for example, remarriage, moving out, or failure to maintain the home). To confirm termination,…
How can I force production of my father’s will if my step-sister won’t cooperate? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, a person who believes someone is holding a deceased person’s will can ask the Clerk of Superior Court to compel that person to bring the will to court or explain under oath where…
Are there deadlines for filing a will after someone dies, and what happens if those deadlines are missed? – North Carolina Short Answer Yes. In North Carolina, the named executor is expected to deliver the original will to the Clerk of Superior Court as soon as possible after death, and if the executor does not…
What documentation do I need to show an estate account is zeroed out so Social Security will let me close it? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, the cleanest way to show an estate account has been fully spent and “zeroed out” is to document every deposit and every payment from the estate…
Do we need court or estate representative approval to accept an offer and close on estate property, and what documents will we have to sign? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, the person who can accept an offer and sign closing documents for estate real estate is usually the estate’s personal representative (executor…
What happens to accounts that were only in the deceased person’s name versus accounts with a payable-on-death beneficiary or joint owner? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, an account titled only in the deceased person’s name is usually an estate asset, meaning the administrator collects it using Letters of Administration and reports it…
Can a mortgage company refuse payments until I have letters, and how do I prevent foreclosure or penalties while I wait? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, a mortgage company commonly asks for “letters” (letters testamentary or letters of administration) before it will accept payments from someone acting for a deceased borrower’s estate,…
Is it better to open the estate myself or wait and participate as an heir after the stepparent opens it? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, it is often safer not to sign any waiver/renunciation papers and to consider opening the estate (or asking the Clerk of Superior Court to appoint a neutral…
