What happens if the court says a probate file was scanned but it still does not show up in the portal? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, a confirmation that a legacy probate file was scanned does not always mean it will immediately appear in the public-facing portal. The file may still be…
What estate documents am I supposed to sign and send back, and what are they for? – North Carolina Short Answer In a North Carolina estate administration, a law firm may send documents for signature to (1) confirm receipt and contact information, (2) allow the Clerk of Superior Court to appoint the right personal representative,…
What documents does an executor usually need to provide to update a date of death with Social Security or similar agencies? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, an executor usually needs a certified death certificate and proof of authority (such as Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration) to ask Social Security or Medicare-related…
What documents do I need to provide to support the commission amount requested in an estate file? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, the clerk of superior court typically expects the commission request to be supported by the estate’s accounting records that show the commissionable receipts and disbursements and the math used to…
Do heirs or the personal representative ever have to pay the decedent’s medical bills out of their own money or jointly held assets? – North Carolina Short Answer Usually, no. In North Carolina, a decedent’s medical bills are generally paid (if at all) from estate assets, not from an heir’s or the personal representative’s personal…
Can Medicaid still come back later with a claim even if I was told the benefits were closed? – North Carolina Short Answer Yes. In North Carolina, “benefits closed” usually means Medicaid coverage stopped during life, not that the State gave up its right to seek repayment from the estate after death. If the decedent…
How do we decide what a fair payout is to an heir when the property value and creditor claims are still uncertain? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina probate, a “fair payout” to an heir usually cannot be finalized until the estate knows (1) the net sale value of the property and (2)…
Do I need to open a small-estate probate case in the state where the bank account is located, even if the person died in another country? – North Carolina Short Answer Usually, yes—if the bank account is a North Carolina account and there is no payable-on-death beneficiary, the bank will typically require North Carolina authority…
Do I need probate, estate planning, or something else for my situation? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, the right legal service depends on the trigger: planning for a living person (estate planning), handling property and debts after someone has died (probate/estate administration), or resolving shared ownership disputes (often a partition action). Many…
Do I need a copy of the assignment or funding agreement to include the inheritance advance in the estate accounting? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, an estate accounting filed with the Clerk of Superior Court should be supported by records that explain why money was paid out of the estate. If the…
