What steps can I take to challenge a home improvement claim filed by non-heirs?: North Carolina probate guide

What steps can I take to challenge a home improvement claim filed by non-heirs? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, non-heirs who say they paid for improvements are treated like creditors. You can challenge the claim by testing its timeliness and legal basis, demanding proof of actual, reasonable costs that increased the property’s…

Can I recover personal items like my father’s truck and tools from the estate before or after sale?: North Carolina probate rules

Can I recover personal items like my father’s truck and tools from the estate before or after sale? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, the personal representative (PR) controls a decedent’s personal property and must protect it for creditors and heirs. You generally cannot remove items like a vehicle or tools until the…

Can I serve as the sole estate administrator without my sibling’s signature?: North Carolina probate answer

Can I serve as the sole estate administrator without my sibling’s signature? – North Carolina Short Answer Yes—under North Carolina law, one sibling can be appointed as the sole administrator even without the other sibling’s signature. If your sibling won’t sign a renunciation, the Clerk of Superior Court can still appoint you after required notice…

Should I go ahead and pay the decedent’s final personal taxes now or wait for estate funds?: Answered for North Carolina probate

Should I go ahead and pay the decedent’s final personal taxes now or wait for estate funds? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, personal representatives should not pay most debts (including the decedent’s final income taxes) until the three-month creditor window has closed and you confirm the estate is solvent. Because a substantial…