What documents should I gather before contacting a North Carolina probate attorney about an estate?

What Documents Should I Gather Before Contacting a North Carolina Probate Attorney About an Estate? Understanding the Importance of Document Preparation When someone passes away, their estate enters the probate process in North Carolina. Probate is the court-supervised procedure for distributing assets to heirs or beneficiaries. To get started efficiently, you should gather key documents…

How can North Carolina heirs informally divide a decedent’s personal property without formal probate or a partition sale?

Informal Division of Personal Property in North Carolina When a loved one dies leaving only personal belongings, heirs often want to avoid the time and cost of formal probate or a partition sale. North Carolina law provides a straightforward, statutory path for heirs to claim personal property valued at $20,000 or less without opening a…

What initial steps and statutory deadlines must a personal representative meet under North Carolina probate law?

What initial steps and statutory deadlines must a personal representative meet under North Carolina probate law? Detailed Answer When someone passes away, the court appoints a personal representative (sometimes called an executor) to settle the decedent’s affairs. In North Carolina, the personal representative has a series of mandatory tasks and deadlines under Chapter 28A of…

What steps must a personal representative take when a late-discovered child comes forward in an intestate estate in North Carolina?

What steps must a personal representative take when a late-discovered child comes forward in an intestate estate in North Carolina? 1. Detailed Answer When someone dies without a will in North Carolina, the court appoints a personal representative to settle the estate under N.C.G.S. § 28A-13-1. If a previously unknown child comes forward after the…