When Should I Use a Small Estate Affidavit Instead of Full Probate Administration in North Carolina? Detailed Answer In North Carolina, you may choose a Small Estate Affidavit when the decedent’s personal property subject to administration totals $20,000 or less and no estate administration petition exists. This streamlined process, governed by N.C. Gen. Stat. §…
How do I file an extension for the probate inventory deadline in North Carolina? Detailed Answer When you serve as a personal representative in North Carolina, the court requires you to file a complete inventory of the estate’s assets within 90 days after your appointment. See N.C. Gen. Stat. § 28A-13-1. If you cannot meet…
What information must be included in North Carolina’s probate inventory and appraisement under North Carolina law? Detailed Answer When someone dies in North Carolina and you serve as the personal representative (formerly called executor), you must prepare two key filings for the clerk of superior court: the probate inventory and the appraisement. These requirements appear…
How to Submit an Original Will to the North Carolina Clerk Without Attorney Travel Fees 1. Detailed Answer Under North Carolina law, you can lodge the original will with the clerk of superior court in the county where the decedent lived without requiring your attorney to travel in person. General Statute 28A-2-1 authorizes lodging and…
How to Access State Retirement or Insurance Benefits in North Carolina When No Beneficiary Is Named Detailed Answer When a public employee or retired member of a State retirement system or group insurance plan passes away without naming a beneficiary, North Carolina law establishes the order in which benefits become payable. In most cases, these…
How to Settle Creditor Claims and Distribute Assets in a North Carolina Intestate Estate Understanding Intestate Administration When someone dies without a valid will in North Carolina, the court appoints a personal representative to handle the estate under Chapter 28A of the North Carolina General Statutes. This representative must identify creditors, pay valid debts and…
Who Pays Mediation Fees in a North Carolina Probate Dispute, and Can Those Fees Be Paid From the Estate? Detailed Answer In North Carolina probate litigation, the parties often resolve disagreements through mediation. The clerk of superior or district court may order mediation in contested probate matters. Under North Carolina’s Alternative Dispute Resolution rules, the…
How to Probate a Lost Will Copy in North Carolina under the Solemn Form Procedure Detailed Answer When an original will has been lost, burned, destroyed or cannot be found, North Carolina law allows you to probate a copy under the solemn form procedure. You must show the court that the decedent executed the original…
What steps can I take to remove a mismanaging co-administrator and appoint a successor under North Carolina probate law? Detailed Answer Under North Carolina law, a personal representative—whether an executor or administrator—must manage estate assets responsibly and in the best interests of the heirs and creditors. If a co-administrator mismanages the estate through misconduct, neglect…
How Can I Determine Which Assets Require Full Probate Administration Versus Those That Bypass Probate in the State of North Carolina? 1. Detailed Answer When someone dies in North Carolina, their estate may include assets that must go through full probate administration and assets that pass outside probate. Understanding the distinction helps you plan and…
