Is it possible to negotiate a new settlement after the original one lapses, or is full payment the only option? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, a lapsed settlement offer usually means the creditor can insist on the original debt terms, including full payment. But full payment is not the only possible outcome:…
What is the right way to send a formal request for information so the lender responds within a reasonable time? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, the most effective way to get a mortgage lender or servicer to respond is to send a written, “estate” information request that (1) clearly identifies the deceased…
How should I document reimbursements for expenses I paid and any fees for my role? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina estate administration, a personal representative should document reimbursements and any requested commissions the same way the Clerk of Superior Court expects to see them in an annual or final account: a clear…
What happens if additional assets are discovered after I sign the receipt and the final accounting is submitted? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, finding additional estate assets after a receipt is signed and a final account is filed usually means the estate must be handled again for the newly discovered property. The…
How do I transfer title to real estate my parent owned after they passed? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, real estate owned by a deceased parent is usually transferred by (1) probating the parent’s will (if there is one) and recording the probate documents in the county where the land is located,…
How can I compel a co‑executor to complete distribution of inherited land when the estate is closed or inactive? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, the usual way to force progress when a co-executor will not finish distributing inherited land is to ask the Clerk of Superior Court (the probate judge) to reopen…
What happens if the will is considered invalid or too old—do the default no‑will rules apply or can we still rely on parts of it? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, an “old” will is not automatically invalid just because of its age. If the will is validly executed and admitted to probate,…
Can I use my parent’s bank account to pay funeral costs, or do I have to wait for court approval? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, a person generally should not use a deceased parents bank account to pay funeral costs unless that person already has legal authority on the account (such as…
How do creditor claims (like a second mortgage or loan) affect what heirs receive from the estate, and what if the lender files late or doesn’t file? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, heirs generally receive what is left after the personal representative gathers estate assets and pays valid debts and expenses in…
How can I object to the probate and challenge the will changes the neighbor arranged right before death? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, the main way to object to a will that has been admitted to probate is to file a caveat in the decedent’s estate file with the Clerk of Superior…
