How do I document a repossessed vehicle when settling a loved one’s estate? — North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, list any vehicle the decedent owned on the date of death in the 90‑day inventory with its fair‑market value and full identifying details, even if a lender later repossesses it. Keep the lender’s repo…
Can funds held in trust be released if the deed hasn’t been recorded yet? — North Carolina Short Answer Generally, no. In North Carolina, a settlement agent should not disburse real estate closing funds from a trust/escrow account until the deed (and any deed of trust) is recorded and funds are collected. This protects title…
Can I amend the probate inventory to reflect lower values for estate cars sold in poor condition? — North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, the probate inventory must show each asset’s fair market value as of the date of death. You may file a supplemental inventory to correct a value that was erroneous or…
What happens if my sibling claims I mismanaged estate assets because I sold our dad’s car? — North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, a qualified personal representative (executor or administrator) may sell a decedent’s personal property, including a car, without a court order so long as they act prudently, avoid self-dealing, and deposit the…
What is the process for transfering my parent’s car title to my other parent in a small estate when we don’t have the original title? — North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, you can usually retitle a deceased parent’s car to the surviving parent without a full probate by using one of three small‑estate…
How do I challenge or dismiss a petition for possession and control of estate property in probate? — North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, you challenge a petition by filing a timely written response and appearing at the clerk’s hearing to contest the petitioner’s proof. For real estate, the personal representative (PR) must show…
Should we open probate in Virginia or North Carolina if my parent died in Virginia but was living in North Carolina? — North Carolina Short Answer If your parent was domiciled (had their permanent home) in North Carolina at death, open the primary probate in North Carolina, even if the death occurred in Virginia. If…
How can I challenge the final accounting my sibling filed in my parent’s estate when no one gave me notice in North Carolina? Short Answer In North Carolina, notice of a proposed final account is optional. If you did not receive formal service of a proposed final account, you have not waived objections. You can…
What is the process for contesting the estate accounting more than a year after it’s been approved in North Carolina? — North Carolina Short Answer After a final account is approved, you generally cannot appeal it if more than 10 days have passed. More than a year later, your options are to ask the clerk…
How can I probate a copy of a will without it being presumed revoked? — North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, you can probate a copy of a lost or destroyed will by asking the clerk of superior court to admit the copy under the “lost will” process. You must prove, with clear, strong,…
