How can a creditor or bank get a status update on an open estate being handled by a law firm? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, a creditor or bank usually gets a reliable status update by checking the estate file with the Clerk of Superior Court (the probate court) and/or by contacting…
What documents does the court or estate process typically need to transfer or sell a vehicle? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, transferring or selling a deceased person’s vehicle usually requires the vehicle’s title (or a DMV duplicate-title process), proof of death, and proof of legal authority to act for the estate. In…
If there are no U.S. assets, what can a U.S. probate attorney actually do to help with the inheritance process? – North Carolina Short Answer Even if the deceased had no assets located in the United States, a North Carolina probate attorney can still help by confirming whether any North Carolina probate filing is actually…
How do I figure out which country’s inheritance process applies when the person lived in the U.S. but had foreign citizenship and assets abroad? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, the key starting point is usually the decedent’s domicile at death (their true, permanent home), plus where the assets are located. If the…
If my parent died without a signed will and I’m the only child, what do I need to file to be authorized to handle the estate? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, when a parent dies without a valid signed will, the usual way to get legal authority to handle the estate is…
What are we negotiating in an estate matter, and how do we decide on the best strategy? – North Carolina Short Answer In a North Carolina estate administration, negotiations usually focus on (1) who is entitled to receive estate property, (2) what debts and expenses get paid and in what priority, and (3) how and…
How do I get copies of a vehicle title, registration, and VIN information if I no longer have the paperwork? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, copies of a vehicle title and registration are usually obtained through the N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles (NCDMV) by requesting a duplicate title and/or a copy of…
Do I need to open an estate to collect life insurance or a retirement account for a minor beneficiary? – North Carolina Short Answer Usually not. In North Carolina, life insurance and many retirement accounts pass by beneficiary designation, so they are typically not collected through an “estate” (probate) at all. The bigger issue is…
Do I need to sign the new receipt if I already signed the original one? – North Carolina Short Answer Usually, yes. In a North Carolina estate administration, receipts are used to document what was actually distributed and to support the personal representative’s accounting with the Clerk of Superior Court. If the first receipt was…
How is a house titled in the deceased parent’s name handled when a minor child may be an heir or beneficiary? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, a house titled only in a deceased parent’s name is usually handled through the estate (probate) unless it already has a built-in transfer method (like a…
