How does a financed car get transferred after death if the loan is not paid off yet? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, a financed car can still be transferred after death, but the lender’s lien stays attached to the vehicle until the loan is paid off. The transfer is usually handled through…
If there’s a big creditor claim against the estate, can the house be taken or forced to be sold, and do heirs have any options? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, a decedent’s debts generally must be paid before heirs receive their full inheritance, and that can include using (and sometimes selling) a…
How do I make sure a creditor payment is credited correctly when I mail a check? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina estate administration, the safest way to ensure a mailed check is credited correctly is to (1) clearly identify the estate and the claim on the check and in a cover letter,…
How do I file a petition for reimbursement in an estate case? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, a request to be repaid for estate-related expenses is usually handled through the estate administration file with the Clerk of Superior Court (Estates Division). The petition should clearly identify the estate, explain why the expense…
How can I remove or replace an executor who may be acting against the beneficiaries’ interests, and can the executor be held personally responsible for missing funds? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, an executor (also called a “personal representative”) can be removed or replaced through the Clerk of Superior Court overseeing the…
How will I receive the probate letters once they are issued, and how long does it usually take after the revision is filed? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, probate “letters” (letters testamentary or letters of administration) are issued by the Clerk of Superior Court after the personal representative qualifies. How they are…
If my parents filed jointly and one parent died, how are any missing tax returns handled now? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, any missing income tax returns from before a parent’s death are typically handled by the surviving spouse (for joint years) and/or the estate’s personal representative (for the decedent’s required filings).…
How can I close a deceased person’s brokerage account if they demand my net worth and I won’t open an account with them? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, a brokerage generally should not need a beneficiary’s personal net worth to transfer or close a deceased person’s account. The brokerage typically can close…
If I can’t provide clear title because the property is tied to a deceased owner’s estate, does the purchase contract become void or can the buyer try to force the sale? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, a buyer may try to enforce a signed real estate purchase contract even if the seller…
How can I find out what has been filed in the estate case and what my rights are as a parent and interested person? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, most estate administration filings are kept in the estate file maintained by the Clerk of Superior Court (Estates Division) in the county where…
