What are my rights if someone else has encroached on my property? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, you can demand removal of an encroachment, seek damages for trespass, and ask a court to confirm your boundary and title. If the encroachment has existed long enough, the encroacher may claim adverse possession, which…
How can I negotiate a fair buyout of a co-owner’s share of real property? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, most co-owners settle buyouts privately by agreeing on value, pricing adjustments, and clean title, then documenting the deal with a deed and releases. If talks stall, a partition case can be filed with…
What steps do I take to settle a co-ownership dispute without filing in court? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, co-owners can settle a property dispute privately by negotiating and signing a written buyout or settlement agreement, setting a clear price, credits for expenses, and solutions for any title or boundary issues, then…
What steps should I take to inventory and document which items belong to the estate versus my own property? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, the administrator controls the decedent’s personal property and must file an inventory within three months of qualifying. You should secure the home, make a room-by-room list with photos,…
What can I do if heirs remove items without proper documentation or trespass on the property? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, if you own the home by survivorship, you control access to the house and can refuse entry to heirs and even the estate administrator unless a court orders otherwise. The administrator—not…
Do heirs or the estate administrator have a right to access my private computers and personal information stored in the house? – North Carolina Short Answer Under North Carolina law, heirs do not have a personal right to enter your home or take property. The court-appointed administrator (also called the personal representative) may collect property…
How can I probate my aunt’s out-of-state will in North Carolina? – North Carolina Short Answer North Carolina lets you probate an out-of-state will here if your aunt owned property or assets in a North Carolina county. You can either (1) probate a certified copy of the will that was first probated where she lived,…
How do I publish creditor notice and handle outstanding medical and ambulance bills? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, after you receive Letters from the Clerk of Superior Court, you must publish a notice to creditors once a week for four consecutive weeks in a qualifying county newspaper and mail the notice to…
When and how do I file the oath of affirmation and affidavit of subscribing witnesses? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, you file the executor’s oath or affirmation with the Clerk of Superior Court at the time you qualify for letters; the clerk will not issue letters until your signed oath is on…
What happens to my power of attorney authority once the principal has passed away? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, a power of attorney ends at the principal’s death, and the agent’s authority stops immediately. After death, only a court‑appointed personal representative (or a small‑estate affiant in limited cases) can handle the decedent’s…
