What happens to the sale proceeds if a creditor files a claim after the property is sold? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina probate, if estate real estate has been sold and a creditor later files a valid, timely claim, the personal representative must use the sale proceeds (after paying any liens and…
Should vehicles or other personal items be listed in the estate if the main goal is selling the house, or can they be handled separately? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina probate, all probate assets the decedent owned alone — including vehicles and other personal property — should be listed in the estate…
Do we need to open probate to sell the house, or would a partition action be faster or safer? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, opening an estate with the clerk of superior court is usually the safer way to sell a deceased owner’s house when there are known creditor claims. A partition…
Do I need to file the original will with the court, or will a certified copy work? – North Carolina Short Answer Under North Carolina law, the clerk of superior court generally expects the original signed will when an estate is opened or a will is lodged for safekeeping or filing. A certified copy will…
How can I complete ancillary probate in the state where the property is so I can transfer a deceased co-owner’s share and update the deed for a sale? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, when a nonresident dies owning North Carolina real estate as a tenant in common, an ancillary estate is usually…
How can I be reimbursed for funeral and administration costs I paid out of pocket, and what proof will the court require? – North Carolina Short Answer Under North Carolina law, a personal representative who pays reasonable funeral and estate administration costs out of pocket can usually be reimbursed from estate funds. Reimbursement is handled…
What happens if the court takes longer than expected and I move out of state before the title transfer is finished? – North Carolina Short Answer Under North Carolina probate law, a move to another state does not stop or undo an existing estate or title transfer case that is already opened in a North…
How do I start probate after mailing a will to the clerk? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, mailing the original will to the clerk of superior court only lodges or files the will; it does not, by itself, open an estate. To start probate, someone with priority (usually the named executor) must…
How can I change the marital status listed on a death certificate? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, changes to the marital status shown on a death certificate are made through the North Carolina Vital Records office, not through the probate court. A family member or other qualified person must submit an amendment…
What happens if a creditor refuses to honor a negotiated payoff after closing—do I have to pay the full claim or can I challenge it without delaying the estate? – North Carolina Short Answer Under North Carolina law, a personal representative can usually challenge a disputed creditor claim rather than automatically paying the full amount,…
