When should I use a Small Estate Affidavit instead of full probate administration in Mecklenburg County?

FAQ 1: When Should I Use a Small Estate Affidavit vs. Full Probate Administration in Mecklenburg County? North Carolina offers a streamlined process called the Small Estate Affidavit for estates whose probate assets total $20,000 or less (excluding liens and certain real property). Under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 28A-20-3 (link to statute), you may collect…

What process allows heirs to request documentation and object to a personal representative’s draft final accounting in North Carolina probate?

How can I challenge a draft final accounting and obtain supporting documentation in a North Carolina probate estate? When a personal representative submits a draft final accounting in a Wake County probate file, heirs and beneficiaries have a right under North Carolina law to review the figures, ask questions, and, if necessary, object before the…

How can someone confirm qualification as an interested person or beneficiary under a will in Cabarrus County, NC?

How Do I Confirm Whether I Am an Interested Person or Beneficiary Under a Will in Cabarrus County, NC? When a loved one’s will has been filed in the cabarrus County Clerk of Superior Court, you may wonder whether you qualify as an “interested person” or beneficiary. North Carolina’s probate statutes define an “interested person”…

What steps can I take to remove a mismanaging co-administrator and appoint a successor under North Carolina probate law?

FAQ 1: What can I do if my co-administrator is threatening my removal and mismanaging estate assets? In North Carolina, co-administrators share equal authority to manage an estate. If one co-administrator threatens removal or acts in ways you believe breach fiduciary duties, you have clear statutory remedies. Under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 28A-15-2, any interested…