How can I open an estate on behalf of my minor child when a parent dies without a will? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, the surviving spouse has first priority to open an intestate estate. If the spouse does not apply, you can ask the Clerk of Superior Court to appoint you…
How do I get reimbursed for mortgage and lien payments I made on estate property? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, you can seek reimbursement by filing a written claim in the estate that explains what you paid, why you paid it, and how it benefited the estate. If the payment was necessary…
What steps do I need to force a sale or partition of the inherited house with my brother? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, a co-owner can file a partition action with the Clerk of Superior Court to divide or sell inherited real estate when the owners cannot agree. Separately, if the estate…
Can I recover costs for unpaid property taxes or past timber sales from other heirs? – North Carolina Short Answer Yes. In North Carolina, a co-owner (cotenant) who paid necessary carrying costs like property taxes can generally seek contribution from the other heirs in a partition case. Profits one cotenant received from common property (for…
How can I challenge or remove an executor who isn’t fulfilling probate duties or seems incompetent? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, a beneficiary can ask the Clerk of Superior Court to revoke an executor’s letters if the executor is unqualified, has defaulted on duties (like failing to account), or has mismanaged or…
What steps are needed to have a court appoint someone to survey and divide the property? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, you start a partition special proceeding with the Clerk of Superior Court in the county where the land sits. After all co-owners are formally joined and served, the clerk can appoint…
How does a quiet title action work to finalize an estate property transfer? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, a quiet title action is a civil lawsuit in Superior Court to remove clouds on title and declare who owns the property. For estate property, the administrator (or heirs) files in the county where…
What steps do I take to clear title when a deed has conflicting language? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, you clear title from a conflicting or ambiguous deed by getting a court declaration about who owns the property and what the deed means, then recording that order and executing the proper deed(s).…
Can I challenge a deed that appears to revert property back to the grantor after a life estate? – North Carolina Short Answer Yes. In North Carolina, you can file a court action to clarify or correct a deed that creates a life estate but is silent or confusing about who owns the remainder. If…
How can I identify the proper remainder beneficiary under a life estate deed? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, if a recorded deed grants someone a life estate but does not clearly name who takes after the life tenant, the future interest usually remains with the original grantor as a reversion. When the…
