How do I get legal authority to request a deceased relative’s medical records for a lawsuit when there was no will? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, the cleanest way to get “court-issued authority” to request a deceased person’s medical records is usually to have a court appoint an estate representative and obtain…
If the will was signed in another state and isn’t notarized, is it still valid where the probate is being handled, especially when there is real estate involved? – North Carolina Short Answer Often, yes. In North Carolina, a will signed in another state can still be valid even if it is not notarized, as…
What can I do if the estate administrator is unresponsive and I can’t get updates about the estate? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, an estate administrator (a “personal representative”) is supervised by the Clerk of Superior Court and can be required to file an inventory and accounting and to respond to court…
What can I do if I have evidence someone forged my parent’s signature on checks or moved money into another person’s account before death? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, suspected forged checks or last-minute transfers before death can be addressed through a mix of probate steps and, when needed, a separate civil…
What happens if the person who died had no will and I’m not sure what assets they owned? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, when someone dies without a will, the estate is handled under the intestate succession rules, and a court-appointed personal representative must identify, gather, and list the decedent’s probate assets…
How long does an estate administration usually take when there are no other assets and no known debts? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, even a simple estate administration usually takes several months, and it often lands in the 6–12 month range. The biggest built-in timing issue is the creditor-notice process, which typically…
What responsibilities does the personal representative have after the estate is opened? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, once an estate is opened and a personal representative is qualified, the job is to gather and protect estate property, give required notices, pay valid debts and expenses in the proper order, keep good records,…
What happens if property taxes on an estate-owned house are behind and I can’t afford to pay them personally? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, delinquent property taxes are generally paid from estate funds, not from the administrator’s personal money. The county’s tax claim is secured by a lien on the house, so…
If the estate has no assets other than a potential wrongful death claim, do I still have to file an inventory and other probate forms? – North Carolina Short Answer Usually, yes. In North Carolina, once a Clerk of Superior Court appoints an administrator and issues letters, the estate file typically stays on the clerk’s…
Can the deed and probate-related paperwork be handled remotely if I live out of state? – North Carolina Short Answer Often, yes. In North Carolina, most probate and deed-transfer steps can be handled from out of state by mailing original documents to the Clerk of Superior Court (Estates Division) and the county Register of Deeds,…
