What records should I request—deed, will, probate file, tax notices—to check for errors affecting ownership? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, checking for errors that affect ownership usually means pulling the full chain of title from the register of deeds, any probated will and estate file from the clerk of superior court, and…
Do I need an original death certificate to transfer a car after a relative passes away, or will a copy work? – North Carolina Short Answer Under North Carolina law, the Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) almost always requires a certified (original) death certificate to transfer a motor vehicle after the owner dies; a plain…
Can the estate pay or reimburse funeral expenses before letters are issued by the court? – North Carolina Short Answer Under North Carolina law, the estate is primarily liable for reasonable funeral expenses even if no personal representative has been appointed yet. A person authorized to handle final arrangements may contract for and pay the…
What happens if the funeral home will not provide an itemized bill or receipt? – North Carolina Short Answer Under North Carolina probate law, the personal representative has a duty to keep clear records and justify funeral expenses as claims against the estate. If a funeral home refuses to provide an itemized bill or receipt,…
Can I pick up or authorize someone to pick up a check that’s addressed to me but delivered to a different address? – North Carolina Short Answer Under North Carolina law, a check payable to a beneficiary or heir generally must be delivered to that payee (or the payee’s authorized fiduciary) and not to someone…
How can a surviving spouse transfer a vehicle if the key and title are missing? – North Carolina Short Answer Under North Carolina law, a surviving spouse can usually transfer a deceased owner’s vehicle through the Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) even if the original key and paper title are missing. The main options are:…
Who keeps original documents during the process, and can I get them back after they are reviewed or filed? – North Carolina Short Answer In a North Carolina probate case, the Clerk of Superior Court keeps original documents that the law requires to be filed in the court file, such as an original will or…
What steps should I take to update the mailing address for all estate payments and notices? – North Carolina Short Answer Under North Carolina probate law, the personal representative and their attorney should promptly give written notice of any new mailing address to the clerk of superior court and to anyone who sends payments or…
What happens if an estate check keeps getting misdelivered—will it be reissued or canceled? – North Carolina Short Answer Under North Carolina probate law, if an estate distribution check is misdelivered or never reaches the intended heir, the personal representative should protect the estate by stopping payment on the original check and either reissuing it…
Will a pending death certificate delay transferring the car or handling necessary accounts, and what can I do in the meantime? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, many immediate tasks can move forward while a certified death certificate is pending, but some transfers will wait on that document. The clerk of superior court…
