What happens if the other heir will not consent to my commission or the court declines to approve it? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, an heir’s consent is not what controls whether a personal representative (executor or administrator) receives a commission. The Clerk of Superior Court decides whether to allow a commission…
Is it safer to wait to list the property or just delay closing until creditor claims are resolved? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, it is often possible to list the townhome while probate is pending, but it is usually safer to structure the transaction so the personal representative joins in the deed…
What happens if I can’t recover the mistaken payment from the heir—should I sue to enforce recovery? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, a personal representative generally should take reasonable steps to recover a mistaken distribution because the personal representative must complete an accurate final accounting and make correct distributions. If voluntary repayment…
Can I distribute house sale proceeds before finalizing tax returns and creditor claims? – North Carolina Short Answer Sometimes, but it is risky in North Carolina. A personal representative can make an early or partial distribution only after keeping enough money in the estate to pay known and reasonably possible debts, expenses, and taxes, including…
What documents should I gather and send to a probate attorney to figure out the estate’s options with the foreclosure? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, a probate attorney can evaluate an estate’s foreclosure options faster when the file includes (1) the probate status documents (will, letters, and basic family/beneficiary information), (2) the…
Can a year’s allowance include children who were not legally adopted but were supported and claimed on taxes? – North Carolina Short Answer Yes, sometimes. In North Carolina, a child can qualify for a child’s year’s allowance even without a legal adoption if the decedent stood in loco parentis to the child at the time…
As the estate administrator, what expenses can I get reimbursed for (travel, taxes, insurance, loan payments), and what proof do I need to submit? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, a court-appointed estate administrator can usually be reimbursed from estate funds for reasonable, necessary expenses that were properly incurred to collect, protect, manage,…
If the house has an HVAC lease the decedent signed, am I obligated to keep it, or can I negotiate a payoff and get it removed from the property obligations? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, an HVAC “lease” signed by the decedent is usually a contract obligation that can follow the estate…
How can I take over probate proceedings if my sibling who was handling the case is incapacitated? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, probate is controlled by the Clerk of Superior Court (the judge of probate), and only the court-appointed personal representative has legal authority to “handle the case.” If the sibling who…
What happens if a debt collector demands payment before probate is closed? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, a debt collector can ask for payment during probate, but that demand does not automatically mean the estate must pay immediately. Most unsecured claims must be presented in the proper way and within the estate’s…
